264 A NATURALIST IN THE GUIANAS 



possible to reach Para as we were going, and that even it* 

 we did get there, we would be so weak by that time that 

 we would never be able to get the large boat we had left 

 at the top of the hill to the river below. The men had 

 decided that the best thing would be for those who were 

 unable to walk and who were keeping the others back to 

 hurry on in the boat so as to try to reach La Prision as 

 quickly as possible, from which place a relief party could 

 be sent back to meet the men left behind. By abandon- 

 ing everything except the few hammocks and blankets 

 remaining, one pot for cooking, and the guns, the boat 

 might hold nine persons, leaving five to walk through 

 the forest. Jacobson, Villegente, Mateo, his son, and 

 myself would have to go in the boat, as none of us could 

 walk any distance. Maite was the only one who knew 

 the river sufficiently to act as guide, so that it had to be 

 determined which would be the four to accompany us. 

 At first the men spoke of drawing lots to decide who 

 should remain behind, but they finally arranged amongst 

 themselves that Pedro Hospedales, Pedro Asoque, Pancho 

 Montenegro, Juan Silva, and Epifanio Mufioz should 

 continue walking through the forest, and that ' the 

 Pirate,' Laureano Kodriguez, Eamon Eamirez, and Freddy 

 Hospedales should go with us. After we had arrived at 

 this momentous decision we tried to get what rest we 

 could. For the last time we slept together. 



