fljlTÜRN TO l'ENE^Ti;. 
79 
channels, «o that one could cross ou this rocky dam to the opposite bank 
with dry feet. We found the promised corial so cranky and full of holes 
that I now, wanted to change my mind, but active hands soon bailed out 
the water that had poured in, tried to prevent further inrush by stopping 
up the holes, and packed in the luggage. After the land party had disap- 
peared in the brusliwood on the further shore, we tioated our vessel. 
Although we struck no further rocks, 1 only too soon regretted having 
trusted niyself to the frail craft, for the water shortly forced its Avay in 
to such an extent, a\ hile the two Indians were fully occupied with the 
paddles, that 1 could hardly bail it out quick enough. What embittered 
my perseverance still more, was the daily attack of fever that shook me 
up so badly during the tiresome efforts at bailing, that I was hardly con- 
scious when we tinally reached the mouth of the Cursorari, where we 
found tlie land-party already camped in the shade. They were engaged 
in cutting up a Tayassu (Dicotyles torqiiatus) Avhich they had shot a 
little while before. This species never lives in large packs, but in the 
majority of cases is only present in pairs, it being one of those rare cases 
^^'llen one finds six to eight gathered in one spot. 
197. The inrushing water having soaked several of uiy packages, 
their contents had tirst to lie dried in the sun, before we could proceed 
on our way to Tenette. Tin's was soon done, and exhausted with the fever. 
I now tottered towai'ds the longed-for village. Already in the distance 
my attention had been drawn to a man amusing himself at shooting with 
a bow. I soon recognised ^Ir. Fn er skipping gaily along towards us, but 
who, when three paces ofP, stopped short with a puzzled air, he being 
hardly able to make me out, a mere skeleton, fatigued and em:aciat<»d by 
fever. Fryer was just as surprised at my appearance as I Avas depressed 
over the negative reply I received to the first (piestion I asked as to 
whether he had any quinine. 
198. Our friend, who liad left Petri out of danger at Pirara, had been 
in Tenette for the past eight days, and as the residents could not accu- 
rately ad^ase him as to our route, was determined to wait for us here 
where, as the luggage left behind indicated, we would have to return. To 
the enquiry about quinine, there naturally followed others concerning 
our friends in Pirara who at the time we left were daily expecting the 
arrival of a supply of provisions froui Georeotown, to all of which I re- 
^•eived more satisfactorv answers than the first. A special pleasure was 
still in store for me. My feet, like my whole person, owing to 200 miles 
covered in sandals, hnd pot into so desperate a stfite as to awaken Fryer's 
entire sympathies with the result that he gladly and willingly offered me 
the snare r»air of shoes that he had brought from Pirara. 
199. In order that we might find everything comfortable on our 
arrival at Pirara, Fryer made his way back there on the following 
morning. Next day brought us also the other party. From Tuarutu on, 
they had continued their course through wooded savaniuihs, reached 
Takutu towards evening, and crossed its approximately SOft. wide dry 
bed on the large granite and gneiss boulders Avhich actually filled it. 
200. On the following day they traversed the highest elevation 
between the Rupununi and the Takutu, a spot about 150 feet above the 
level of both : the Rupununi lay 6 miles, and the Takutu 12 miles distant 
