SEPARATED FEOM OUR TRAIN. 271 



couple of poles. Thus was bridged the strongest part of 

 the current. Our precaution was not unnecessary, for, 

 upon reaching the middle of the stream, with the water 

 nearly to our neck, our feet were swept from the bottom, 

 and, but for the aid of the rope, we would doubtless have 

 gone down to the Amazons. 



With fording rivers, and floundering through swamps, 

 that day's tramp was a hard one. In our order of march 

 a small party of three or four generally proceeded several 

 miles in advance of the main train, in order to select a 

 camping-place for the night, and to construct a ranch. 

 We generally attended the main company, but this day 

 we took a middle position. It was growing dark when 

 we found ourselves sej^arated, no knowing by what dis- 

 tance from our baggage, a part in advance, and tlie re- 

 mainder behind. Whether to attempt to overtake the 

 leading i>arty, or turn back to meet the other, was a per- 

 plexing question ; but the thought of passing twice more 

 over the trail we had come decided our wavering, and on 

 we pushed. As we dragged ourselves wearily along, we 

 thought of Bayard Taylor, who, while traversing some dis- 

 torted portion of the world, tells us of one of his agoyats 

 exclaiming : " I was never in this country of Mama be- 

 fore. If I should happen to be fettered and brought here 

 by force, I might see it again ; but of my own will, never ! " 

 If ever we see the orient of Ecuador again, it will be 

 from reasons as cogent as those required to secure a re- 

 visit to Maina by that dragoman. We could not also 

 help commending the decision of two associate travellers 

 of Dr. Jameson, who, having accompanied him from Quito 

 to the Rio Napo, determined, rather than go back across 

 this trail, to descend the Napo and Amazons, a distance 

 of three thousand miles, and sail for the States from Para, 

 instead of Guayaquil, as they had intended. 



At length we wei*e gladdened by the sight of a rancho, 



