168 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



guavas would spoil in twenty-four hours, and that his basket 

 held more than we could possibly consume. 



Sumichrast was walking about twenty steps in front of 

 us, when suddenly he stopped and drew back. When I got 

 abreast of him, my eyes met an immense ravine, at the bot- 

 tom of which the torrent was rushing with a loud noise. 

 The water was first calm and sluggish, accumulating in a 

 large basin, then it suddenly burst forth against an immense 

 rock and disappeared, roaring and foaming in two columns, 

 which, after uniting, broke into a thousand little cascades. 

 We all wished to visit the bottom of this ravine, in order to 

 enjoy this wondrous sight in all its grandeur. 



Before making our way into the brush- wood we put 

 down our insect-cases and game-bags, for the enterprise re- 

 quired our unimpeded agility. As long as we could cling 

 on to the plants and shrubs, the descent was mere child's 

 play ; but we soon found ourselves treading on a reddish 

 ferruginous soil, which some great land-slip had exposed. 

 Sumichrast was the first to venture on this dangerous 

 ground, which gave way under him at his third stride. 

 Our companion rolled over the declivity, instinctively 

 grasping the first branches he could reach ; but he let go 

 directly, uttering a piercing cry. Fortunately a shrub kept 

 him from falling into the gulf. I planted my feet as deep- 

 ly as I could in the crumbling soil, so as to be able to help 

 my friend, who, with his face contracted with pain, raised 

 towards me his right hand, which was already red, swollen, 

 and covered with blisters. The branch he had caught hold 

 of in his fall belonged to a gigantic nettle, called by the 

 Indians Mala-mi/jer, or " bad-woman." This plant only 

 grows on damp banks — " a piece of malice," said l'Encuera- 

 do, " adopted in order to play shameful tricks on unsus- 

 pecting travellers ; towards whom it treacherously stretches 

 out its green stalks and velvety leaves as if offering them 

 assistance." 



