i82 SIGNS OF INDIANS. [chap. flP 



:,iundred feet, and have on the opposite sides a remarkable 

 correspondence. 



April i(^th. — Against so strong a current it was, of course, 

 quite impossible to row or sail ; consequently the three 

 boats were fastened together head and stern, two hands 

 left in each, and the rest came on shore to track. As the 

 general arrangements made by Captain Fitz Roy were 

 very good for facilitating the work of all, and as all had a 

 share in it, I will describe the system. The party, including 

 every one, was divided into two spells, each of which hauled 

 at the tracking line alternately for an hour and a half. The 

 officers of each boat lived with, ate the same food, and 

 slept in the same tent with their crew, so that each boat 

 was quite independent of the others. After sunset the first 

 level spot where any bushes were growing was chosen for 

 our night's lodging. Each of the crew took it in turns to 

 be cook. Immediately the boat was hauled up, the cook 

 made his fire ; two others pitched the tent ; the coxswain 

 handed the things out of the boat ; the rest carried them up 

 to the tents and collected firewood. By this order, in half 

 an hour everything was ready for the night. A watch of 

 two men and an officer was always kept, whose duty it 

 was to look after the boats, keep up the fire, and guard 

 against Indians. Each in the party had his one hour 

 every night. 



During this day we tracked but a short distance, for 

 there were many islets, covered by thorny bushes, and the 

 channels between them were shallow. * 



April 2oth. — We passed the islands and set to work. Our 

 regular day's march, although it was hard enough, carried 

 us on an average only ten miles in a straight line, and 

 perhaps fifteen or twenty altogether. Beyond the place 

 where we slept last night, the country is completely terra 

 incognita^ for it was there that Captain Stokes turned back. 

 We saw in the distance a great smoke, and found the 

 skeleton of a horse, so we knew that Indians were in the 

 neighbourhood. On the next morning (21st) tracks of 

 a party of horse, and marks left by the trailing of the 

 chuzos, or long spears, were observed on the ground. It 

 was generally thought that the Indians had reconnoitred 

 us during the night. Shortly afterwards we came to a 

 spot where, from the fresh footsteps of men, children, and 

 horses, it was evident that the party had crossed the river. 



April 22nd. — The country remained the same, and was 



