158 
NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
CHAP. 
it may well be supposed how each as he descended 
the pole clung to it like grim death. We all got 
safely down to the beach, where we could get along 
more pleasantly. 
When the two Spaniards left me at Puca-yacu I 
sent by them a tin box asking them to return it full of 
bread from the Sierra, when they should send back 
their cargueros. I had hoped to meet the bread 
about the Jibaria, but I afterwards learnt that my 
companions had had a long disastrous journey 
through the Montana, and that the swollen Topo 
kept them waiting three days. However, when we 
got down to the Arenal, we saw some Indians 
advancing and recognised them for our friends of 
Puca-yacu. They brought my bread, which thus 
came very opportunely, and I immediately shared 
out a loaf to each of my hungry companions, 
reserving enough for other two rations. 
The Indians of Puca-yacu, on learning the state 
of the Topo, did not delay a minute, but started off 
at the top of their speed. I afterwards learnt that 
when they reached the Topo the bridges were 
beginning to move, that they crossed with some 
peril, and that immediately afterwards the longest 
bridge was carried away. We continued along the 
margin of the Pastasa till the sun began to get low, 
indeed the rain did not clear away so as to allow us 
to see his face until 2 o'clock, and at about 4 p.m. 
came on a rancho thatched with leaves of Arrow- 
reed, where we drew up to pass the night. 
We were still a good way from the end of the 
Arenal. Whilst my supper was preparing I had 
leisure to examine it a little. The gorge of the 
Pastasa, though still bounded on the north side by 
