I20 
NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
CHAP. 
loose and wet, so that the fragments of gold sink 
into it by their weight. 
At 4^ P.M. we reached the pueblo of Sara-yacu, 
on the left bank. It stands on a steep ridge 15 feet 
above the high-water mark of the river and distant 
perhaps 200 yards. On each side of it and at a 
short distance is a deep ravine with a rivulet ; at 
the mouth the streams are barely 30 yards apart, 
but the space between them widens higher up. 
The track leading up to the pueblo has in one place 
a steep slope on each side, with barely room for one 
person to pass another. A barricade across this 
strait would render it defensible by two men 
against a hundred. This position has no doubt 
been selected for the pueblo with an eye to its 
defence from attacks of Infieles, and it is far 
stronger than that of Andoas, though there is some 
similarity. 
JUay 20 [Wednesday). — Our Indians from Andoas 
should have returned home from Sara-yacu, but 
as we found there neither Governor nor Curaca, 
we persuaded them to go on with us to Puca-yacu, 
where the Governor was at present residing, and so 
paid then each 2 varas of Tocuyo for the additional 
labour — all save two who could not be persuaded 
to go farther. This day was passed dully enough 
in the port of Sara-yacu, waiting till the Indians 
should stuff themselves with masuto; enlivened only 
by disputes about the payment to Puca-yacu, such 
as are unavoidable in all traffic with Indians. 
May 21 {Thursday). — . . . We left at an early 
hour, and the slight rise of the waters gave 
us more depth in the rapids, so that we got on 
