CANELOS TO BANGS 149 



steep cliff, perhaps 150 feet high, of dangerous 

 ascent. In some parts of it on projecting ledges 

 poles are set up with notches cut in them wherein 

 to step, but they were very slippery, and in clam- 

 bering up them I trusted more to my hands than 

 to my feet. Beyond this the ground is nearly 

 level to the Topo, \vhich we reached in an hour 

 more. Here our worst fears were realised. The 

 Topo, as far as w r e could see up it, and downwards 

 to its junction with the Pastasa, was one mass of 

 foam, and the thunder of its waters against the 

 rocks made the very ground shake to some distance 

 from the bank. The Topo is perhaps the largest 

 tributary of the Pastasa on the north side ; its 

 course is much shorter than that of the Bombonasa, 

 but more water seems to come down it. Its 

 source is in the snowy mountain Llanganati the 

 fabulous El Dorado of the Ouitensians. . . . This 

 mountain and its offshoots occupy nearly all the 

 space between the head of the Napo and the Rio 

 de Patate, both which rivers rise in Cotopaxi. . . . 

 The Topo is never low enough to be fordable on 

 foot, and though numerous explorations of its 

 banks have been made for some leagues up, no 

 place has been found practicable for a bridge save 

 the accustomed one, which is about 200 yards 

 above its junction with the Pastasa. Here, on 

 each side of the river, which is perhaps TOO feet 

 wide, stands a large rock, nearly flat-topped, and 

 rising some 12 feet above high water; they arc 

 rather difficult of access, but can be clambered 

 up. ... 



In the middle of the river, and in a line with 

 these two rocks, is a smaller one of equal height, 



