PREFACE. 



xiii 



the most painful exertions, the cataracts and the 

 rocks on the river, and at length arrived at tlie 

 foot of the mountain Arascoara, in the middle of 

 the southern continent, separated from Quito only 

 by the Cordilleras. Dr. Spix proceeded up the 

 main stream, crossed the broad rivers Jurua and 

 Jurahy, and the Spanish river 19a, and penetrated 

 at length, through clouds of poisoned arrows dis- 

 charged by the Indians, and of venomous insects, 

 through contagious diseases, and threatening moun- 

 tain torrents, to the mouth of the river Jupary, 

 at the last Portuguese settlement of Tabatiaga, on 

 the frontiers of Peru, where he heard the language 

 of the Incas. Had the two travellers prosecuted 

 their enterprise, a few weeks longer, they would 

 have reached the opposite shores of the South 

 American continent. But to effect this they 

 needed the permission of the viceroy of Peru, and 

 the time allowed them for their journey, would not 

 permit them to extend it further. They again 

 turned to the east, and the stream carried them 

 down so rapidly that they arrived in five days at 

 the place, from which it had cost a full month's 

 exertion to work their way up the river. After 

 several lateral excursions, which amply repaid their 

 labour, they again reached Para on the I6th of 

 April 1820. The object of their mission was com- 

 pleted : the continent had been traversed from ^4* 

 south latitude to the Equator, and under the line, 

 from Para to the eastern frontier of Peru ; an in- 



