24 A NATURALIST IN THE GUIANAS 



to the danger of those behind. In the more open parts, 

 patches of a tall coarse grass occurred here and there, and 

 were a source of a good deal of inconvenience to us. The 

 blades of this grass would cling to our faces and hands, 

 and, if not lifted off carefully, cut us painfully when we 

 moved away. Even our clothes suffered from the razor- 

 like edges of this grass. 



In the lower part of the valleys between the hills the 

 vegetation again became luxuriant. We found in these 

 hollows quantities of a fruit which in appearance and 

 taste reminded me of the sapodilla (Sapota achras), but 

 was somewhat smaller and more regular in size. The 

 tree bearing this fruit is one of the tallest in the forest. 



From the top of the second hill I obtained a good 

 view of the cliff forming the highest point of Turagua. 

 At the bottom of this hill we pitched our camp close to a 

 rapid stream of beautifully clear water where the Indians 

 had stayed when they cut the track. 



The Indians went out before daybreak, as they had 

 done the day before, and they were again successful in 

 bringing back a couple of curassows. Turban and Guy 

 preferred not to attempt the ascent of the mountain, so I 

 sent them out to collect birds and butterflies. The 

 Indians and myself then crossed the last of the three hills 

 which run parallel to the base of the main mass. Between 

 this hill and Turagua there is a dark narrow gorge, at the 

 bottom of which a rivulet trickles, forming pools along its 

 bed. We sat on some rocks near one of these pools and 

 rested a while, for a long stiff climb lay ahead of us. The 

 Indians drank copiously, actually filling themselves up 

 with water, and they advised me to do likewise, as we 

 might not, they said, be able to obtain anjrthing to drink 

 until our return, so they thought it wise to absorb a 



