FIRST JOURNEY. 27 



take everything out of the canoe, cut a passage through 

 the branches, which hung over into the river, and then, 

 drag up the canoe by main force. 



At one place, the falls form an oblique line quite 

 across the river, impassable to the ascending canoe, and 

 you are forced to have it dragged four or five hundred 

 yards by land. 



It will take you five days, from the Indian habitation, 

 on the point of the island, to where these falls and 

 rapids terminate. 



There are no huts in the way. You must bring 

 your own cassava bread along with you, hunt in the 

 forest for your meat, and make the night's shelter for 

 yourself. 



Here is a noble range of hills, all covered 

 with the finest trees, rising majestically one 

 above the other, on the western bank, and presenting 

 as rich a scene as ever the eye would wish to look on. 

 ^Nothing in vegetable nature can be conceived more 

 charming, grand, and luxuriant. 



How the heart rejoices in viewing this beautiful 

 landscape ! when the sky is serene, the air cool, and 

 the sun just sunk behind the mountain's top. 

 . The hayawa-tree perfumes the woods around ; pairs 

 of scarlet aras are continually crossing the river. The 

 maam sends forth its plaintive note, the wren chants 

 its evening song. The caprimulgus wheels in busy 

 flight around the canoe, while " Whip-poor- Will " sits 

 on the broken stump near the water's edge, complaining 

 as the shades of night set in. 



A little before you pass the last of these 



ocks - rapids, two immense rocks appear, nearly on 



the summit of one of the many hills which form this 



