158 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP. 



it may well be supposed how each as he descended 

 the pole clung to it like grim death. We all got 

 safely down to the beach, where we could get along 

 more pleasantly. 



When the two Spaniards left me at Puca-yacu I 

 sent by them a tin box asking them to return it full of 

 bread from the Sierra, when they should send back 

 their cargueros. I had hoped to meet the bread 

 about the Jibaria, but I afterwards learnt that my 

 companions had had a long disastrous journey 

 through the Montana, and that the swollen Topo 

 kept them waiting three days. However, when we 

 got down to the Arenal, we saw some Indians 

 advancing and recognised them for our friends of 

 Puca-yacu. They brought my bread, which thus 

 came very opportunely, and I immediately shared 

 out a loaf to each of my hungry companions, 

 reserving enough for other two rations. 



The Indians of Puca-yacu, on learning the state 

 of the Topo, did not delay a minute, but started off 

 at the top of their speed. I afterwards learnt that 

 when they reached the Topo the bridges were 

 beginning to move, that they crossed with some 

 peril, and that immediately afterwards the longest 

 bridge was carried away. We continued along the 

 margin of the Pastasa till the sun began to get low, 

 indeed the rain did not clear away so as to allow us 

 to see his face until 2 o'clock, and at about 4 P.M. 

 came on a rancho thatched with leaves of Arrow- 

 reed, where we drew up to pass the night. 



We were still a good way from the end of the 

 Arenal. Whilst my supper was preparing I had 

 leisure to examine it a little. The gorge of the 

 Pastasa, though still bounded on the north side by 



