DANGEROUS RAPIDS AHEAD 257 



all the provisions be exhausted and the final stages of 

 the expedition be accomplished by men weakened from 

 semi-starvation, and therefore ripe for disaster. On this 

 occasion, of the two hazards, we felt it necessary to risk 

 running the rapids ; for our progress had been so very 

 slow that unless we made up the time, it was probable 

 that we would be short of food before we got where we 

 could expect to procure any more except what little 

 the country, in the time of the rains and floods, might 

 yield. We ran until after five, so that the work of 

 pitching camp was finished in the dark. We had made 

 nearly sixteen kilometres in a direction slightly east of 

 north. This evening the air was fresh and cool. 



The following morning, March 15, we started in 

 good season. For six kilometres we drifted and paddled 

 down the swift river without incident. At times we 

 saw lofty BrazU-nut trees rising above the rest of the 

 forest on the banks ; and back from the river these 

 trees grow to enormous proportions, towering like giants. 

 There were great rubber-trees also, their leaves always 

 in sets of threes. Then the ground on either hand rose 

 into boulder-strewn, forest-clad hills, and the roar of 

 broken water announced that once more our course 

 was checked by dangerous rapids. Round a bend we 

 came on them ; a wide descent of white water, with an 

 island in the middle, at the upper edge. Here grave 

 misfortune befell us, and graver misfortune was narrowly 

 escaped. 



Kermit, as usual, was leading in his canoe. It was 

 the smallest and least seaworthy of all. He had in it 

 little except a week's supply of our boxed provisions 

 and a few tools ; fortunately none of the food for the 

 camaradas. His dog Trigueiro was with him. Besides 

 himself, the crew consisted of two men : Joao, the helms- 



17 



