950 MISSION OF MAYPURES, 
beverage consisting of water, sugar, and the juice of 
acid fruits, for the purpose of allaying the thirst of 
the missionary who was seized by a fever fit ; after 
which they had the pleasure of bathing in a quiet 
place in the midst of the cataracts. After an hour’s 
delay, the boat having been got up, they re-em- 
barked their instruments and provisions. The ri- 
ver was 1705 yards broad, and had to be crossed ob- 
liquely, at a part where the waters rushed with 
extreme rapidity towards the bar over which they 
were precipitated. In the midst of this dangerous 
navigation they were overtaken by a thunder- 
storm accompanied by torrents of rain ; and after 
rowing twenty minutes, found that so far from 
having made progress they were approaching the 
fal]. But, as the Indians redoubled their efforts, the 
danger was escaped, and the boat arrived at night- 
fall in the port of Maypures. The night was ex- 
tremely dark, and the village was at a consider- 
able distance ; still, as the missionary caused copal- 
torches to be lighted, they proceeded. As the rain 
ceased the zancudoes re-appeared, and the flam- 
beaux being extinguished, they had to grope their 
way. One of their fellow-travellers, Don Nicolas 
Soto, slipped from a round trunk on which he at- 
tempted to cross a gully, but fortunately received 
no injury. To add to their distress, the pilot talked 
incessantly of venomous snakes, water-serpents, and 
tigers. On their arrival at the mission they found 
the inhabitants immersed in profound sleep, and 
nothing was heard but the cries of nocturnal Sos 
and the distant roar of the cataract. 
At the village of Maypures they remained three 
days, for the purpose of examining the neighbour- 
