432 



APPENDIX. 



afford indisputable proofs of the great quantity of water this river supph'es, in 

 inundating the plains of the Sacrament at the time of its increase. Among the 

 multitude of fishes, amphibious creatures, and quadrupeds, which presented 

 themselves to his view, the daring cayman, and the resolute and industrious 

 tiger, equally claimed his attention. It is necessary to be constantly on the 

 watch against the former of these animals, which darts on the canoes without 

 dread or apprehension. The latter is the only one which dares to attack these 

 ferocious amphibia, and which, imitating man in the fishing of turtles, makes his 

 provision for several days*. Engaged on the one hand in the contemplation of 

 the varied and admirable speftacle of nature ; and molested on the other by the 

 insefts, the heat of the climate, and the humidity and exposure of the spots at 

 which he passed his nights, father Girbal continued to advance until the 25th of 

 September, without encountering, in any part of the Ucayali, within the current, 

 the smallest rock or shoal to impede the navigation. 



On the 26th, at break of day, the reverend father continued his peregrination, 

 not a little surprized at the proximity of the savage tribes, whose traces were mul- 

 tiplied every moment. He fluftuated between fear and confidence, without being 

 able to divine the result of the first encounter. With this he was soon made ac- 

 quainted, since, at eight in the morning, he perceived a-head, a flotilla of nine- 

 teen canoes, which, by the aid of the oars and currents, descended with great 

 velocity. The clamour made by the Indians, on descrying the two canoes which 

 ascended, was distinctly to be heard. In similar encounters, the sound of the 

 horn announces peace among these barbarians, by whom, if they are amicably dis- 

 posed, it is returned. Father Girbal ordered his crews to sound theirs, which 

 were instantly answered by the bobotas\ of the strangers. A mutual confideoce 

 having been thus established, the canoes approached each other, and, the endear- 

 ing title of friend having been interchanged, were brought to the nearest bank, 



* The tigers lie in ambush for the caymans on the strands of the Ucayali, and whenever they are 

 enabled to spring on them, bury their claws in the eyes, the hardness of the teguments not allowing 

 them to accomplish this in any other part. The cayman, as soon as he feels that he is wounded, extri- 

 cates himself from the tiger, and plunges into the water, where this valiant quadruped perishes, sooner 

 than allow himself to be taken. — The Indians follow the example of other nations, in fishing for turtles, 

 by laying them on the back, to prevent their escape: in this position they live for a space of from 

 twenty to thirty days. Those who are engaged in this fishery^, subsist on one of these animals for a con- 

 siderable time, cutting it up peacemeal, in proportion to their wants. 



f The bobotas are made of the thick canes which grow on the mountains, and haveeome resemblance 

 to the flute. They give out a duU, but terrific sound. 



where 



