VOYAGE UP THE RIO NEGRO 279 
difficult spot was the turning of a point where the 
granite shore juts into the current, and all our efforts 
to pass it were unavailing. A sitio stands close by, 
and we invited the owner to help us, which he very 
readily did. I took the helm, though very ill-dis- 
posed for the task, the pilot leaped into the water 
with two or three more, applying their shoulders to 
the canoe, whilst the- rest on board lugged at a 
rope made fast on shore beyond the point. In our 
course lay a sunken rock, which it was thought the 
canoe might pass ; but, instead, she struck on it and 
immediately fell over on one side. The boat swung 
round, forcing the rope out of the hands of the men, 
who instantly leaped into the water, not showing 
much consideration for the safety of my goods, and 
I was then left alone. I stuck pertinaciously to the 
helm. The canoe again swung round and fell over 
on the contrary side, and all thought this time she 
would have gone clean over ; but she did not. 
Another revolution and she swung fairly off the 
rock, righting at the same time. I set her head to 
the fall and she shot down like an arrow. In a few 
instants she reached an eddy of the current, and I 
was able to take advantage of a slight reflux to set 
her head to shore and bring her up in a small bay, 
where my men speedily rejoined me. All this took 
up scarcely more than a minute ; whilst it lasted I 
felt nothing like fear, but when it was over, I fully 
realised the peril I had been in, and made a mental 
resolution to have no more to do with the helm in 
rapids. 
A council was now held, and I determined to 
send across the river to a sitio where aid might 
possibly be procured. After waiting two hours, my 
