RESCUE OF T*HE OLD INDIAN. 49 



waters had turned muddy, the drift-wood came dancing by us, great 

 logs rolled over as they floated down ; the wild Toucan, with its large 

 beak, screamed as it flew over us to its nest ; the fish seemed to rejoice at 

 the flood, jumping up in the air as though making signs for the river to 

 rise ; while the good old padre, dressed in his snuff-colored robes, motioned 

 to us the waters were subsiding. The waves made by the rapid motion 

 of the water in mid-channel were quite as high as our heads, and the 

 island much reduced in size. The water runs off very soon after the 

 storm passes away, and we gained the opposite mainland. Leechler 

 lost a second balsa in trying to cross the stream to the island again for 

 the Indian, and another night was spent with the party divided. Our 

 provisions were getting short. A small bamboo balsa was now con- 

 structed, the barometer, pistols, and clothing put upon it. My provisions 

 were left with the old Indian, and he was told to remain there until we 

 returned. He said, " if he was left alone, the Chunchos would murder 

 him, or the tigers would devour him at night ; if we left him he would 

 jump into the river ;" but he was again directed to remain where he was 

 while we sought help, to take care of his provisions, and he would soon 

 be with his friends. He told Leechler he would obey, but "he must first 

 bring over his coca," which was on the opposite side. 



With Leechler on one side of the bamboo raft and I on the other, 

 we jumped into the stream, and after hard work, swimming, we gained 

 the padre in time to save our raft from passing over the falls. In the 

 evening we were at San Miguel farm, after three days' hard work, and 

 two nights without sleep. Resting ourselves we found great difficulty 

 in getting persons to go with us after the old Indian. The padre 

 made a spirited speech to them, which had the desired effect. In the 

 evening we encamped at the junction of the Tono and Cosnipata rivers. 

 To my great joy, the old Indian came down opposite to us, after being 

 called by Leechler, In the morning early, we felled a tree across the 

 Tono, where it cuts through a mass of rocks, and descending along the 

 banks of that stream for some distance, we came to a smooth place in 

 the river. Another raft was built which rescued the old Indian, but wag 

 also lost, and we saved the men by felling a large tree on the rocks to 

 which they clung. The old Indian had eaten all he had the night we 

 left him, and was now very hungry ; he was delighted to get his coca, 

 and handed me the cigars I gave him to smoke. He amused the other 

 Indians, telling them how the white man had treated him. After fol- 

 lowing the Torn all day, we came to the river Piiiipifti, a stream as 

 large as the Tono, with an average width of forty yards. I saw at once 

 we could get no further, but it was a satisfaction to behold these two 

 4 



