IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO CAMAPUAO, 139 



whole of the outdoor work of the first section. I had 

 previously been over there and arranged all the details ; 

 but we had a heavy day's work to get everything com- 

 pleted. To gain a footbridge, the only means of crossing 

 the river, we had to traverse a submerged swamp. On 

 reaching the bridge, the saddles, etc., were taken off and 

 carried across ; and then one of the men had to go lower 

 down the river to a ford and swim the horses across. 

 Having accomplished this, we were able to ride tolerably 

 near to the point where our work began. Fortunately the 

 weather was favourable, and we suffered only from the 

 mosquitoes. We were in the thick forest (mata virgeni), 

 and heard the screams of parrots, the chatter of monkeys, 

 and saw some bright Heliconidce. By working with all our 

 might we accomplished our task, and I must confess with 

 some sorrow on my part returned to camp, not again to 

 resume any outdoor work. 



January 16. To-day has been a very busy day, clean- 

 ing and putting away our instruments, packing up and 

 arranging the luggage, interviews with many visitors from 

 all round the neighbourhood, who have heard of our de- 

 parture and come to take leave ; one of my men wanting 

 change for a large bank-note, another wishing to be only 

 partly paid to-day, and to receive the remainder to- 

 morrow ; paying off and dismissing all the other workmen ; 

 worried by one visitor who wished to sell grapes, by a 

 second with eggs, while a third had cucumbers and toma- 

 toes to dispose of. 



Our camp presented a lively scene, and the jabber of 

 many voices was ceaseless from morning till night. 



