EilBAEKED FOE BAUL. G7 



the river, or any neighboring rock or limb, as was most 

 convenient, then, nsing his pole as a balancer, to walk, d 

 la JBlondin, up the inclined plane formed by the rise in 

 the bow, and repeat the operation. From his head to his 

 knees, Viviano diftered not essentially from the gener- 

 ality of mortals, but below that was somewhat unique. 

 At his knees his legs dispersed, choosing jjaths of life as 

 diverging as possible. Whether Nature intended Viviano 

 for a palancasist, par excelknce, is doubtful, but his form 

 was vmdoubtedly of great advantage to him, for, where 

 more commonplace men would walk with fear and uncer- 

 tainty, he, his feet just fitting nicely to the sides of the 

 . bongo, walked with imconcern. Ever himgry and ever 

 eating, Viviano was yet the leanest of men ; but that fact 

 was easily accounted for from his always talking when 

 compatible Avith eating. Our ^j»a?;'0?i, Alvino by name, 

 who handled the clumsy steering-oai', Avas an old man of 

 eighty-two summers, if it is possible to say " summers " 

 in reference to that country, and was the father of Viviano 

 and the small boy, who Avas perched on " airy nothing," 

 behind his father. To the words of the patron, liis sons and 

 every one whom we met paid the greatest deference, and 

 indeed the respect paid always to old age was very 

 marked ; rarely did a young person salute an old man 

 without kneeling. El Patron's knowledge of geography 

 was not extensive, but at least j^atriotic ; his enumeration 

 of the countries of the world ended with Venezuela, ut- 

 tered triumphantly as the incontrovertible acme of gran- 

 deur. Under the carroza were stowed our supplies, uten- 

 sils, arms, and baggage ; and there was also, as Alvino 

 gravely informed us, to be our place of refuge from the 

 storms, although it was difficult for iis to conceive how, 

 when every thing Avas in, there Avould be space left for 

 more than one at either end, and for only half the length 

 of the body at that. 



