XVIII 
CANELOS TO BANGS 
^53 
bamboo- fiats so many dead thorny branches are 
strewed that the feet do not fail to be sorely 
wounded. When a dozen bamboos had been 
dragged out the Indians fell tired and could not be 
induced to fetch the four more which were needed 
to make the bridges sufficiently strong, so we had 
but three instead of four for each bridge. 
At nightfall the river seemed to be falling 
slightly, and we retired to rest not without hope of 
seeing it passable when day broke ; but after mid- 
night heavy showers came on and continued till 
near 5 a.m. (June 28), so that the morning light 
showed us the river as much swollen as ever. The 
sun looked out on the wet forest for a brief interval 
and then was hidden by clouds, which speedily 
overspread the whole heaven, so that we could not 
doubt more rain was coming. The Indians had had 
long consultations amongst themselves the previous 
day, the purport of which I could not doubt was the 
expediency of deserting me and returning to their 
homes. I also had proposed to them that two or 
three of their party should return to the Jibaria, 
and from thence bring plantains for the rest, as I 
had been told by the Governor of Canelos that 
such a thing was sometimes done. But they shook 
their heads and said that if one went they must all 
go, that they were weary and famished, and that 
the women would die if they returned not soon to 
their own country ; so that I plainly perceived if I 
once sent them away I should see their faces no 
more. Gn the 28th, however, they began to talk 
openly of the necessity of returning, seeing, as they 
said, that before the river could abate we must all 
perish of hunger. And in truth our state seemed 
