CHAP. Ill] WE REACH CORUMBA 91 



carts rocked and swayed as the huge wheels churned 

 through the mud and water. As the last light faded 

 we reached the small patches of dry land at the landing, 

 where the flat-bottomed side-wheel steamboat was 

 moored to the bank. The tired horses and oxen were 

 turned loose to graze. Water stood in the corrals, but 

 the open shed was on dry ground. Under it the half- 

 clad, wild-looking ox-drivers and horse-herders slung 

 their hammocks ; and close by they lit a fire and 

 roasted, or scorched, slabs and legs of mutton, spitted 

 on sticks and propped above the smouldering flame. 



Next morning, with real regret, we waved good-bye 

 to our dusky attendants, as they stood on the bank, 

 grouped around a little fire, beside the big, empty 

 ox-carts. A dozen miles down-stream a row-boat 

 fitted for a sprit-sail put off from the bank. The 

 owner, a countryman from a small ranch, asked for 

 a tow to Corumba, which we gave. He had with him 

 in the boat his comely brown wife —who was smoking a 

 very large cigar — their two children, a young man, and 

 a couple of trunks and various other belongings. On 

 Christmas Eve we reached Corumba, and rejoined the 

 other members of the expedition. 



