104 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. {September, 



base of the perpendicular rocks higher up, where the spring 

 appeared to issue, we proceeded there, and found, to our great 

 joy, a little trickle of pure and delightfully cool water, and a 

 shady place where we could rest and eat our lunch in comfort. 



We then went on till we arrived where our guide said the 

 cave was situated ; but having been there only once he could 

 not find it again, among the confused mass of rock which in 

 several places appeared to present openings, but which on 

 searching the spot deceived us. After various clamberings we 

 gave up the search, and determined to return home and get 

 a better guide another day. 



On our way back we passed by a high cliff, on which were 

 some of the picture-writings I had so much wished to see. 

 They were executed in a red tint, produced apparently by 

 rubbing them in with pieces of the rock, which in places is of that 

 colour. They looked quite fresh, and were not at all obliterated 

 by the weather, though no one knows their antiquity. They 

 consisted of various figures, rudely executed, some representing 

 animals, as the alligator and birds, others like some household 

 utensils, and others again circles and mathematical figures, 

 while there were some very complicated and fantastic forms : 

 all were scattered irregularly over the rock to the height of eight 

 or ten feet. The size of most of the figures was from one to 

 two feet. 



I took a general sketch of the whole, and some accurate 

 tracings of the more curious single figures, which have unfor- 

 tunately been since lost. The night felt chilly and damp, and 

 we had nothing to cover ourselves with, or should have slept 

 on the mountain. As it was, we arrived home very tired about 

 eight o'clock, and were soon glad to turn into our hammocks. 



The next day Senhor Nunez determined to go with us him- 

 self to show us the cave and some more picture-writings, 

 situated in another part of the mountain. We now went on 

 horseback, but could no more find the cave than before, and 

 were forced to send our Indian for an old man who lived a 

 couple of miles off, and who knew the place well. While he 

 was gone, Senhor Nunez went with me to find the picture- 

 writings, which we did after a fatiguing walk. They were 

 situated on a perpendicular rock, rising from the top of a steep, 

 stony slope, which almost deterred me from getting up to them, 

 as I was very tired and thirsty, and there was no water. How- 



