IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO CAMAPUAO. 119 



finding a more passable route, before any of the men could 

 come to the rescue. 



I am most thankful to say that the carrapato torment 

 has now practically ceased. Since the rains really began, 

 about three weeks ago, I have only come across stray ones 

 occasionally; but these are of a larger species, which, 

 however, one can generally feel on their first attack, and 

 pick off before they have buried in their heads ; besides 

 which, I now wear my nails cut pointed, in the native ■ 

 fashion, so as to dig them out better. 



November 30. — We have felt our exposed position at 

 nights, and the wind shakes every rope in the tent. On 

 the night of our arrival we were awakened at 11.30 by the 

 most terrific thunderstorm that Roberts says he ever wit- 

 nessed, and he has been long in India and tropical 

 America. The wind shook the tent about so, that we 

 jumped out of bed, and each rushed to one of the tent- 

 poles to prevent its bending or breaking. Some of the 

 ropes gave way, and the outer covering flapped about. 

 The noise of the rain on the tent top and sides, placed as 

 it was on a bare down, was a continual roar ; but the 

 climax was the lightning, which every instant pierced the 

 pitchy darkness, revealing everything ^as clear as day, 

 followed by the most awful thunder, as if a thousand 

 8 1 -ton guns were exploded and then rolled upon each 

 other like marbles.* 



Continuous rain since yesterday has kept us indoors for 



two days, so we have been able to attend to many matters 



and plot some of our work, as well as very limited space 



will allow. 



* It might interest members of the Psychical Research Society to know that 

 on this same night my mother and Roberts's wife dreamt (?) we were in danger, 

 as we heard from the next letters which we respectively received from different 

 parts of London. The two ladies were unacquainted. 



