CANELOS TO BANGS 153 



bamboo- flats so many dead thorny branches are 

 strewed that the feet do not fail to be sorely 

 wounded. When a dozen bamboos had been 

 dragged out the Indians fell tired and could not be 

 induced to fetch the four more which were needed 

 to make the bridges sufficiently strong, so we had 

 but three instead of four for each bridge. 



At nightfall the river seemed to be falling 

 slightly, and we retired to rest not without hope of 

 seeing it passable when day broke ; but after mid- 

 night heavy showers came on and continued till 

 near 5 A.M. (June 28), so that the morning light 

 showed us the river as much swollen as ever. The 

 sun looked out on the wet forest for a brief interval 

 and then was hidden by clouds, which speedily 

 overspread the whole heaven, so that we could not 

 doubt more rain was coming. The Indians had had 

 long consultations amongst themselves the previous 

 day, the purport of which I could not doubt was the 

 expediency of deserting me and returning to their 

 homes. I also had proposed to them that two or 

 three of their party should return to the Jibaria, 

 and from thence bring plantains for the rest, as I 

 had been tolcl by the Governor of Canelos that 

 such a thing was sometimes done. But they shook 

 their heads and said that if one went they must all 

 go, that they were weary and famished, and that 

 the women would die if they returned not soon to 

 their own country ; so that I plainly perceived if 1 

 once sent them away I should see their faces no 

 more. On the 28th, however, they began to talk 

 openly of the necessity of returning, seeing, as they 

 said, that before the river could abate we must all 

 perish of hunger. And in truth our state seemed 



