NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER EEONA 205 



Cordillera, the launch described a large circle, and we allowed her 

 to be slowly sucked stern first into the power of the fierce current 

 of the Leona. At length it got hold of her, and, adopting a 

 cautious policy, we gave her full speed ahead against the current, 

 which had the effect of letting us drop down stream at about two 

 knots an hour. 



Just before we entered the rip of the current I saw a rock a 

 couple of feet off on the starboard side ; it was only a few inches 

 under the surface, but luckily we slipped by without harm. We 

 got on pretty well in this fashion through the whole afternoon ; it 

 was raining pitilessly all the time. Bernardo, who was acting as 

 engineer, at one period ran the engine at a pressure of 30 lb. above 

 safety, until it was explained to him that, if he continued doing so, 

 it was probable he would see Sweden no more. 



Towards evening the weather cleared into the most lovely blue 

 afternoon, and we camped for the night at the spot we had before 

 chosen, having some fifteen miles of our voyage behind us. We 

 pitched the tent and I crawled into it and lit a pipe with a vivid 

 question in my mind as to when I should do so again. You could . 

 hear the river growling and gulping at its bank;;. I felt I had 

 never before realised how warm and comfortable that little tent 

 was. The next day would decide the: success of our expedition or 

 otherwise, and all the worst of the river lay before us. I cannot 

 deny that I disliked the thought of the morrow. Familiarity with 

 the River Leona is not apt to breed contempt. Its channel 

 was made up of sharp bends and curves, and if the launch by 

 any untoward accident were to swing round, we should be forced 

 to steam faster than the current, and at that speed she would 

 certainly split herself from stem to stern if she touched. Besides, 

 she answered her helm badly, and the river in places was very 

 narrow. 



But, for all this, our success so far had had its effect, and we 

 resumed our voyage next morning in high spirits. We began by 

 negotiating a nasty passage among the rocks with neatness. The 

 river then became very erratic and winding in its course, and 

 almost at once the current caught us, and it seemed as if some 

 gigantic hand were pushing the panting launch slowly round. 



