194 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
termination to proceed no farther. They stated, 
that no one had ever ascended above Barraconda ; 
that Barraconda was the end of the world ; or, if 
there existed any thing beyond, it was merely a 
country of savages, with whom their lives would 
be every moment in danger. All the arguments 
and entreaties of our navigator proved ineffectual, 
till the irresistible powers of a bottle of brandy 
were called to their aid ; after which, they at 
length agreed to go as far as the Europeans went, 
and no farther. 
Stibbs now proceeded to pass the falls of Bar- 
raconda. They consist of two solid beds of rock, 
extending from the opposite sides of the river, 
and each occupying about a third of its breadth. 
The space between was choked up with large 
single rocks, lying so close to each other as in 
general to render a passage impossible. Our party 
found only one, close to the great bed on the 
north side, and so narrow, that, in crossing, both 
sides of the canoe rubbed against the rocks. On 
passing this obstacle, it soon appeared, not only 
that the world extended beyond Barraconda, but 
that all the evils predicted from the hostihty of 
the natives were wholly chimerical. They found 
a harmless people, who supplied them plentifully 
with fowls and other provisions. They now, how- 
ever, found themselves in the region of croco- 
diles, river-horses, and baboons. What was worse, 
