RorH] TRAVEL, OVERLAND 609 
787. Occasionally the “ path” may be so broken that recourse is 
had to bush-rope ladders, as is mentioned by Schomburgk on the 
sandstone terraces at the head of the Wenamu River, a branch of the 
Cuyuni (SR, 1m, 347). On the upper Mazaruni, Brown thus describes 
how he and his party got over the great escarpment of Merumé 
Mountain: We commenced to descend among great sandstone rocks, 
and over slippery tree roots, until we came to a perpendicular wall of 
rock, where a rude ladder of poles, with its rounds lashed to it by 
bush ropes, had been made by Indians, down which we had to make 
our way. We passed down two of these ladders and descended about 
1,000 feet, when, late in the afternoon, we came to a camping place 
at the foot of an overhanging precipice, where some slight shelter 
could be obtained for the night (BB, 398). 
788. Passage over swampy ground can be facilitated by leaves or 
spars. “On our return,” says Brett, “the Indians made a path for 
us across the swamp with a layer of large truli leaves, which was 
perfectly safe” (Br, 159). Crévaux also talks of being prevented 
from sinking into the mud by 
walking on a spathe or palm of 
ouapou, which is very abundant 
on swamp lands (Cr, 194). 
Otherwise, the commonest 
method of crossing a mire is by 
means of spars laid on the sur- 
face. 
789. It has been noted that an 
Indian never bends his back to F'6- 334.—An Indian bridge with hand rail 
on the upper Rupununi River. 
pass under a tree that bars the 
way. He prefers to climb over the obstruction [or to walk around it]. 
This is because the rotten timber harbors a variety of insects, espe- 
cially ants, which would fall upon him at the slightest shake (Cr,194). 
790. There seems to be a uniform method of climbing trees through- 
out the Guianas. St. Clair, talking of the Corentyn Arawak, says 
that the quickness with which an Indian youth can climb the high- 
est of the coconut trees is quite astonishing. He first ties his feet 
together with some coarse grass and, placing them against the tree, 
resting on the grass, by passing hand over hand and bringing his 
feet up after him like a man swimming, he soon gains the top. . . 
and descends in the same manner, his hands and feet having been the 
only parts which touched the tree (StC, 1, 344). On the Parou 
River, Cayenne, the native similarly slips his feet (passe Jes pieds) 
in a strap (/ien) made of palm leaves and climbs with the swiftness 
of a monkey. He always makes the descent with the strap which 
