A PLAGUE OF FLIES 29 



were standing upon, but giant masses which no human 

 being could cHmb. And thus it was while I stood on 

 the highest point of Turagua, looking towards the El 

 Dorado of the conquistador es, the idea of exploring the 

 region where the Caura rises took possession of me. We 

 skirted the edge of the precipice for some distance with 

 the intention of descending by some other route if practic- 

 able, but a dense mist had been creeping up the sides of 

 the mountain, and we were soon enveloped in it, rendering 

 any further exploration along the cliff impossible. It 

 rained heavily, and we got drenched to the skin. The 

 rain was accompanied by violent gusts of wind, which 

 at this altitude, with our soaked clothes clinging to our 

 bodies, made us feel somewhat chilled. As soon as the 

 fog had cleared up, we retraced our steps through the 

 field of bromelias to the spot where the descent began. 

 We sat on some rocks and ate roasted pauji and cassava, 

 which the Indians had brought tied up in wild banana 

 leaves. The descent did not take much time, but as we 

 had left the mountain late it was almost dark when we 

 got within sight of our camp, which we could make out 

 at some distance below us by the bright fire kindled 

 by Turban and Guy. We shouted to give notice of our 

 approach, and, hurrying on, we were soon seated within 

 the circle of ruddy light which the burning logs cast 

 aromid. Turban said that he had been out the greater part 

 of the day, and had returned a couple of hours before us. 

 Both he and Guy were of opinion that it would be im- 

 possible for us to remain where our camp was pitched, if 

 we intended to stay in the neighbourhood of the mountain 

 for a few days. On their return from hunting they had 

 found the whole place alive with flies. Never, they said, 

 had they seen so many flies together. The blankets 



