THE MAQUIRITARES' LAND 179 



work must be pushed with the utmost speed. The tribu- 

 taries of the Orinoco, as well as the main river, leave their 

 banks soon after the beginning of the steady downpours, 

 and the whole country is flooded many miles inland; in 

 places the river is then one hundred and twenty miles wide; 

 all the rubber-camps we had seen on the upward trip were 

 totally deserted when we passed them going down, and of 

 some of the huts the roofs only showed above the water; 

 others had vanished with the yellow flood. 



The collections of birds and mammals were large and in- 

 teresting; they yielded a number of species and one genus 

 new to science. 



And finally, a word about assistants; under no circum- 

 stances should Venezuelans or Indians be depended upon. 

 It is possible to secure experienced river-men in Trinidad, 

 and with proper treatment they make faithful and efficient 

 companions. 



