150 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 



to which bridges could be thrown, and a third 

 short bridge to the right bank of the river (where 

 is a narrow channel, sometimes dry), between the 

 large rock and the actual margin, rendered the 

 crossing of the river complete. Ordinary floods 

 did not reach these bridges, but after long and 

 heavy rains they were carried away, the rocks 

 supporting them being laid deep under water. 

 Yet they sometimes lasted so many months that 

 the bamboos began to decay, and have given way 

 under people who incautiously attempted to pass 

 them. In one of these high floods, some eight 

 years ago, the intermediate rock was toppled over, 

 and as it now lies it is so much lower than the 

 others that it no longer serves to support the 

 bridges. From this cause, the Topo has now to 

 be passed by four bridges, thrown from the sides to 

 three rocks in the water, about 20 yards higher 

 up than the ancient site. These rocks are all 

 smallish and uneven-topped, and the middle one is 

 so low that a very slight flood suffices to render it 

 inaccessible. When we reached the margin, this 

 rock was barely visible at long intervals, and then 

 came surging waves which laid it i to 2 feet under 

 water, and would have swept away instantly the 

 poles attempted to be laid on it. The Indians 

 declared that until this stone should be left un- 

 covered there was no hope of getting across ; we 

 therefore cast about to make the preparations neces- 

 sary for passing the night in this place. So many 

 travellers have been detained here by the swollen 

 Topo, that the narrow isthmus between the Topo 

 and the Shuna has been ransacked of everything 

 available for food or shelter. Not a palmito is now 



