About and Above the Great Falls. 127 



and therefore impassable ; and it had been with difficulty 

 that we had persuaded four of them to accompany us as 

 guides and huntsmen. Report said that the three large 

 species of macaws, the rare species of chatterers, the 

 cocks-of-the-rocks, and other uncommon birds, mam- 

 mals, etc., were to be obtained on the mountain, and 

 therefore a special attempt was made to ascertain 

 the truth of the report, and the advisability of making 

 a camp there, for a week or two, to procure specimens 

 of the various forms. 



As the Indians had reported, however, so we found, that 

 it was out of the question. The small creeks that usually 

 were crossed by a short tacooba over a narrow channel, 

 had, by the recent rains, become great rivers, spreading 

 over the whole valleys between the hills, and were of 

 various depths. Four of these were passed in which 

 the water at different parts varied from up to one's 

 thighs to up to one's mouth. The fifth, which was a part 

 of the lower Mabooroo creek, was more serious. Here 

 a valley of about a quarter of a mile in width, and with 

 steep banks, was taken over with water, in which one 

 got out of one's depth quite at the edge ; and as the path 

 ran along this valley for a great distance, the amount of 

 swimming necessitated would have been out of the question 

 considering the various packages, etc., that were being 

 carried, and which it was essential should be kept 

 untouched by water. Four other such creeks were said 

 to be ahead, and from arrangements made we would 

 have to return the same day and repass the whole set; 

 while to cap it all, the Indians, who alone knew the 

 track, declared that they could not go on. We had been 

 compelled therefore to abandon the attempt. 



