SOUTH AMERICA. 31 

 often stop 3^our course. In the dry season, by stepping First 



Journey. 



from rock to rock, the Indians soon manage to get a 



canoe over tliem. But when the river is swollen, as it 

 was in May, 1812, it is then a difficult task, and often a 

 dangerous one too. At that time many of the islands were 

 overflowed, the rocks covered, and the lower branches 

 of the trees in the water. Sometimes the Indians were 

 obliged to take every thing out of the canoe, cut a 

 passage through the branches, which hung over into the 

 river, and then drag up the canoe by main force. 



At one place, the falls form an oblique line quite across 

 the river, impassable to the ascending canoe, and you are 

 forced to have it dragged four or five hundred yards 

 by land. 



It will take you five days, from the Indian habitation, 

 on the point of the island, to where these falls and rapids 

 terminate. 



There are no huts in the way. You must bring your 

 own Cassava bread along with you, hunt in the forest 

 for your meat, and make the night's shelter for yourself. 



Here is a noble range of hills, all covered with the Hills, 

 finest trees, rising majestically one above the other, on 

 the western bank, and presenting as rich a scene as ever 

 the eye would wish to look on. Nothing in vegetable 

 nature can be conceived more charming, grand, and 

 luxuriant. 



How the heart rejoices in viewing this beautiful land- 



