284 DOWN AN UNKNOWN RIVER [chap, ix 



my spare spectacles, gun-grease, some adhesive plaster, 

 some needles and thread, the " fly-dope," and my purse 

 and letter of credit, to be used at Manaos. All of these 

 went into the bag containing my cot, blanket, and 

 mosquito-net. I also carried a cartridge -bag containing 

 my cartridges, head-net, and gauntlets. Kermit cut 

 down even closer, and the others about as close. 



The last three days of March we spent in getting to 

 the foot of the rapids in this gorge. Lyra and Kermit, 

 with four of the best watermen, handled the empty 

 canoes. The work was not only difficult and laborious 

 in the extreme, but hazardous ; for the walls of the 

 gorge were so sheer that at the worst places they had 

 to cling to narrow shelves on the face of the rock, while 

 letting the canoes down with ropes. Meanwhile Rondon 

 surveyed and cut a trail for the burden-bearers, and 

 superintended the portage of the loads. The rocky 

 sides of the gorge were too steep for laden men to 

 attempt to traverse them. Accordingly the trail had 

 to go over the top of the mountain, both the ascent 

 and the descent of the rock-strewn, forest-clad slopes 

 being very steep. It was hard work to carry loads over 

 such a trail. From the top of the mountain, through 

 an opening in the trees on the edge of a cliff, there was 

 a beautiful view of the country ahead. All around and 

 in front of us there were ranges of low mountains about 

 the height of the lower ridges of the Alleghanies. Their 

 sides were steep and they were covered with the matted 

 grovd;h of the tropical forest. Our next camping-place, 

 at the foot of the gorge, was almost beneath us, and 

 from thence the river ran in a straight line, flecked with 

 white water, for about a kilometre. Then it disappeared 

 behind and between mountain ridges, which we sup- 

 posed meant further rapids. It was a view well worth 



