340 FROM PARI TO TATIGORSK. 



the sun's rays very powerful ; we longed for a photographic 

 camera to turn them to account, and fix some of the 

 pictures of wood and water that constantly met our eyes. 



At an early horn* in the afternoon, our porters surprised us, 

 by sitting down on the banks of the torrent, at a spot where 

 the roar of the water was so loud that it was difficult to 

 carry on any conversation, and proposing we should remain 

 there for the night. We refused to listen to the proposi- 

 tion, and prevented its renewal by walking on, at a pace 

 which the men were unable or unwilling to keep up with. 

 About 5 P.M. we found a position suitable for a camp, 

 on the further side of some clear springs, which were sur- 

 rounded by dense herbage, rich in flowering plants. Here 

 our tent was soon set up and Paul had a roaring fire of 

 logs to cook by. After a good dinner we flattered ourselves 

 we should spend a quiet night ; but at sunset the odious 

 hum of the mosquito commenced, and we were attacked by 

 the venomous little insects, as well as by swarms of a 

 small black fl} , no bigger than a pin's head, but armed with 

 a sharp sting. Our Pari men now told Paul that the people 

 of the last village we had halted at purposed following us 

 and stealing our goods during the night, and that we had 

 better divide our baggage amongst them to guard. Feel- 

 ing sure that, if any robbery was attempted, it would be 

 with the connivance of our attendants, we ordered all the 

 baggage to be piled against the opening of the tent, and 

 told them that our fifteen barrels would be fired without 

 warning if we heard anyone stirring near it. Although no 

 robbers appeared, the night did not pass wholly without 

 alarm. The silence of the forest was broken by a loud 

 crash, like a rattle of musketry, which we found, in the 

 morning, had been caused by the fall of a large tree within 

 fifty yards of our camp. 



July 2bth. — Om* rest was disturbed, and before the early 



