I90 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
ing or floundering through a good many pocinhos 
(" Httle wells," as the lagoons left in the sand are 
called), we reached the mouth. Here we found the 
waters of the Amazon entering with a force and a 
noise truly formidable, and ploughing through the 
sand in such a manner as to make a wall on each 
side of 15 feet high, from which the increasing 
torrent was every moment tearing huge masses 
and thus widening its ^bed. The grey sand and 
the water were so nearly of a colour, that it was 
with cautious steps we approached the edge of the 
treacherous cliff and ventured to look over. And 
what saw we at the foot, creeping gently along, and 
apparently about to ascend ? A troop of tigers ! 
Involuntarily we each seized an arm of the other 
and fled with no tardy steps ; for not only were we 
unarmed, but entirely unclothed. We had run a 
very few paces when I stopped. " Impossible those 
should be Oncas," said I, "in such a place; they 
must be waterfowl, and probably Garcas Reaes 
(Royal Herons)." Reassured by this reflection, I 
again approached the bank a little lower down, and 
then saw clearly that the objects of our alarm were 
enormous masses of thick scum — now gliding 
smoothly along, now whirled round by some violent 
eddy. I called my' companion to my side, and we 
both indulged in a hearty laugh at our late fright. 
We saw enough, however, of real danger to make 
us apprehensive about our journey of the morrow. 
On the following morning, after waiting for some 
hours in vain for the promised aid, we resolved to 
attempt alone the perilous passage. It is impossible 
for any one to travel much on those rivers without 
acquiring something of the practice of navigation. 
