THE RIVER TROMBETAS 89 
lighted a fire, and spread out the sail to sleep on ; 
and by searching about found a few turtle's eggs ; 
although, from the multitude of shells lying about, 
it was plain that most of the young turtle had 
already taken to the water. 
[In three days more the first cataract on the 
river was reached. The course of the stream was 
generally to the north, though occasionally winding 
considerably ; the banks became steep, and after 
the first day's journey hills of considerable height 
began to appear, some estimated at 1000 to 1500 
feet. On the night of the 23rd the Indians and 
Mr. King slept on a sandbank by a large fire, and 
in the morning the tracks of a jacare (alligator) 
showed that one of these dangerous beasts had 
come out of the water and passed close by them, 
unheard by any one. On the morning of Christmas 
Day the river became narrower, the stream swifter, 
stratified rocks appeared on the banks, which soon 
became low, vertical, dripping cliffs, above which 
the steeply sloping banks were clothed in the 
richest foliage. Here and there slender rivulets 
poured in cascades over the cliffs with the musical 
sound now heard by the travellers for the first time 
since leaving England. (Condensed by Editor.) 
The Journal then continues : — ] 
At length the current becomes too furious to be 
stemmed by either poles or paddles. The Indians 
leap on shore and cut strong sipos, stems of a 
Bignonia, fasten them to the prow, and two of them 
yoke themselves thereto to haul alongshore. The 
pilot takes the helm, which requires all his force to 
manoeuvre ; and the fourth man stands in the prow 
