RIO ITENEZ. 



271 



notes of a bird disturbed by man, and those sounds produced from other 

 sources — wild animals, or one of their own feather. They tell me that 

 some of their tribe were robbed and murdered by these savages during 

 the night while encamped on the bank in this neighborhood, and that 

 it is best to remain in the boat all night. We drifted down the Ma- 

 more, and before the break of day, under a bright moon, turned up 

 into the Itenez river, which divides the territory of Bolivia from the 

 empire of Brazil. The crew hug the Brazil shore where there are no 

 inhabitants, and paddle with a will against an half mile current. Here 

 we are forced to turn away from the direct road towards home, for the 

 purpose of procuring the means of getting there. The boat we are in 

 is unfit for the navigation of the Madeira, between us and the Amazon. 

 This valuable crew r of civil men are inexperienced beyond their own 

 country. We must now grope our way among the Brazils. 



I had thought, while detained in Trinidad, we should have had a few 

 good North American carpenters and seamen along, to build a boat and 

 launch her on our way to the Atlantic, but last night's experience taught 

 me to believe I was mistaken ; unless sailors understand the cries of 

 birds better than I do, we might have all been cut off in the darkness 

 of night, before the rising of the moon. These Cayavabos Indians are 

 good fellows ; they say very little, and keep thinking as well by night 

 as by day. I asked the captain if he was certain we were in the Itenez 

 river ? " I don't know, patron, but," said he, " that is the land of Bra- 

 zil," pointing to the east bank, " and this is the way to Matto Grosso." 



The Itenez river varies in width from four to six hundred yards, with 

 white sandy bottom and shoals. The color of the water is clear dark 

 green ; half a mile current, with a winding channel, through sand flats, 

 decreasing from thirty-three feet depth to six feet. Seals and river por- 

 poises are in great numbers, while the shores are lined with water fowl. 



At 9 a. m., thermometer, 80° ; water, 82°. The difference between 

 the temperature of the Mamore and Itenez is 4° Fahrenheit. The Bra- 

 zil water is clear and green, with w T hite sand bottom, while that of 

 livia is muddy, and of a milky color, with grey sand and clay bottom. 

 The muddy water is the best; w T e are all complaining of pains after 

 drinking Itenez water ; it bears a bad character among the canoe-men. 



The country is low and well wooded; the banks overflow in the rainy 

 season ; the foliage on the Brazil side of the river is the richest green ; 

 the dew at night is quite heavy, and during the calm days the sun is 

 oppressively warm. At 3 p. m., thermometer, 86°; water, 81°. After 

 night we secured the canoe to a stake on a flat in mid channel. Soon 

 after we fell asleep, a tiger came to the bank, and while smelling the 



