142 
The Legend of the Water-Chute. 
lowed iiinii(Mli;it('ly one nft^r ilio otlier. Tlicy woro fortniiatoly inasteved 
and we alicadv hclievcd we liad accoinplislied the Avoik wlien we oiici^ 
more .san' in front of ns as far as the eye could reach,) tC single foammg 
](Mi(|]y-ioarin<i mass of Avater, that was snfiicieut to quail the stoutesi 
heart. Was it really jjossible to find a way through? The Indians called 
these rapids I'auatsikameri. Close to the edge of this hellishly-roused 
element our keen attention Avas drawn to some three-c()rnered\ columns 
of an unusual fine-ground gneiss which, thickly crowded against one 
another, rose a few inches above the present surface like giant prisms. 
On landing our boats here, the Indians assured us that it was impossible 
to bring the corials over such a tumultuous pool, whei-e the raging cur- 
rent was I)reakiug on thotisauds of reefs: although this assurance corres- 
ponded so closely with our fears, we wonld not by any means des])air of 
at least piloting the empty corials through, notwithstanding the fact that 
we were unable to recognise the slightest change in the nuiss of foam for 
at least a mile ahead. The baggage had to be carried along the banks, the 
execution of A\ hich ordei'S it almost seemed as if the Indians Avere about 
tlireat( ning to disobey, Avith the result that Ave had to exert every etl'ort 
in extinguishing the glowing sparks of reljellion :■ and yet in our hearts 
A\-e felt the dcei)est sympathy for the poor fellows because the heavy boxes 
fitted up for water and not for land transport, had to be conveyed for quite 
half an hour over an uneven and swampy piece of ground. Of ('ours<' Ave 
did not dai'c express our sym]>athies, or flinch a fingei-'s breadth fi'om our 
orders, unless we had wanted to make slaves of ourselves at the Avill of 
our subordinates. ToAvards evening, tlie\ Impossible had been rendered 
Possible, and a tot of rum, together with some other little gifts, recalled 
from its temporary flight the good-will of the gallant INfacusis: laughing 
and joking Ave continued our journey in smooth water until the evening's 
close Avhen a favourable camping-ground tempted usi to take our night's 
rest. 
ooO. IS'ext morning the early rays of surprise poured upon the Paca- 
raima Pange, noAV only a few miles distant, a really magic pur]ilc lustre, 
the wonderful effect of Avhich held us for long in dumb astonislmient until 
at last the scorching orb ai»pear('d full abov( the hoi-izon. and we resiimed 
our journey oA'er the still smooth water Avhich was all the nioi-e surprising 
as the cleft mountains lay but a feAV miles ahead. 
P.r>l. AYith every fovAvard stroke of the paddle, the western bank 
becanu^ st( e])er and had soon reacla'd a height of 25 feet, Avhen there again 
sounded on our ears the dull I'oar of i-ushiun Avaters which gave us a pre- 
sentiment of further trouldes ; liut on this occasion our fears were ground- 
less, because it was due to a jet of Avater 2 feet in diameter springing from 
out of the steep rocky wall at a spot about 15 fee't above water-level, 
whence it poured in an arch into the stream. On a smaller scale, we had 
already met with these peculiai- phenomena in the loAver reaches of the 
river. The impression Avhich this really im]>osing natural display evoked, 
had spread to the Indians, because they seemed to be seized with soiue holy 
terror as we made our way past the water-chute: their previously noisy 
voices AA-ere still, and with cast doAvn timid glances they put vigour into 
tlie paddles, so as to get aA\ ny as quickly as possible fi'om a spot so terrible 
for theni. Th^ hereditary enemy of mani;ind, Kanaima, says the Indian 
