ON THE RIVERS AND CREEKS. 173 



farther on a clump of the graceful manicole, and in 

 another place perhaps the stately fan-leaved eta. 

 Now the creek is almost closed by a lattice of bush- 

 ropes, and then we have to pass under a leaning 

 trunk or branch almost touching the water. Hun- 

 dreds of cord-like aerial roots depend from the 

 topmost branches of the trees, and have to be 

 moved aside as we get amongst them, while great 

 bunches of flowers depend from the creepers, which 

 also obstruct the way in some places. 



If the creek has not been kept open by Indians, 

 it is often choked with vegetation. A dense wall 

 of creepers forms a curtain, and we can only push 

 through by aid of our cutlasses, which are always 

 carried for this purpose in bush travelling. Under 

 water are the remains of trees which have fallen 

 during several centuries. When the water is low 

 we see them lying in inextricable confusion on the 

 bottom, and every now and then our bateau grazes 

 one that stands higher than the rest, or perhaps 

 lodges upon it until pushed off. Here a great tree 

 has fallen and blocked the way altogether, and we 

 must use the axe if we desire to proceed farther. 

 With a light canoe we may perhaps get out on the 

 trunk and haul the frail craft over, or, if this can 

 be done, clear away the branches sufficiently for a 

 passage. Now and again it is possible to push 



