VIEW OF THE MAEAis^ON. 293 



found we were at Cumindo, a little Indian village, only a 

 short distance from the Mararion. That the mighty river 

 was almost reached, and a life-long desire to he gratified 

 by a view of its majestic stretches, awakened every feel- 

 ing of anticipation. One more bend of the Napo, and 

 tlie great river was before ns, rolling its broad volume of 

 turbid water down between the wall-like forest, which 

 stretched av/ay in the distance until only broken lines 

 rested upon the water, which soon gave way to an un- 

 bounded horizon. It was the strange solitude which most 

 strongly impressed us — the silently-flowing waters, the 

 deep forest buried in the torpor of mid-day, their only 

 possessor the apathetic Indian squatted at our feet. 



Drawing ashore ujion the point of land just where the 

 two rivers commence to mingle their floods, we hastily 

 photographed the scene, with the broad expanse of the 

 Amazons as a watery perspective to several beautiful isl- 

 ands, lending picturesqueness to the view. Reembark- 

 ing, we bade farewell to the Rio ISTapo, and our little craft 

 drifted into the strong current of the Amazons. 



