234- 
And on to Fort Sao Joaquim. 
527. lu the eveuiiiy, the Takutii once more rolled iu front of us. 
,We agaiu pitched camp on the sandbank which, on account of the low 
state of the Avater, Avas considerably enlarged. The Journey, that had 
occupied 12 days in going up stream, was completed in little more than 
three in coming down. While Mr. Goodall next morning set out with 
the remaining boats for Pirara, I went with Fryer down the Takutu to 
pay Captain Leal at Fort Sao Joaquim our ])romised visit, and at the 
same time to fetch the farinha that had already been paid for 
528. On accou)it of the waters of the Takutu luiving fallen several 
feet, many sandbanks )>ecame visilde. The river banks showed the same 
scanty vegetation as above the moiitli of tlu* Zui iima and Cotinga, so tliat 
the savannah often reached right doAvn to the water-side. To the West, 
Mts. Maruki and Durura constituted tlie only lu-eak in the broad 
monotonous plain. At lirst tlie Takutu followed au uninterrupted 
course towards the South-West till, in a few hours" time, it suddenly 
turned to the Soutl^-East. A few miles from this remarkable bend, 
the Mona joined it from the Eastward. Six miles above the tirst bend, 
the current suddenly strikes its old course again to tlie South-West and 
three miles further on the blue waters of the fairly large Ororopi, also 
from the East, become united with it. The north-eastei-ly ])oint of a 
large island lies quite close to the mouth : a second island lies some miles 
further down. 
529. With these islands we were in the immediate proximity of the 
Fort, which was only hidden from us by a small bend. Unless therefore, 
we wished to appear in slovenly clothes before our friends and the still 
greater Honourables with whom we were acquainted, it was now time to 
make our toilette Two shots gave notice of our apjiroach- As Ave 
came round the bend there stood the little Fort Sao .Ioa(iuim in front 
of us uitou the high easterly bank, of the Takutu. dose by its junction 
with the Rio Branco, Parinui, or Urariquera. A military post from the 
rampart called upon us with imperious voice to "Halt,"' Avhich we, as in 
duty bound, obeyed, until after a short while another voice gave us 
permission to land. As we climbed the bank we saw an oflficer coming out 
of the exit towards us. Our ho])es of greeting friend Leal in the 
advancing figure were disappointed: a strange person reported himself 
as Major Coelho of the Artillery, at present the commandant of Fort Sao 
Joaquim, but he gave us a hearty welcome. Tn reply to our anxious 
enquiries, Ave learnt that Cajjtain Leal had been impeaclied in Para for 
having carried <ui relations of too friendly a nature Avith the nation's 
enemy, that he had been relieved of his post as commandant and that he 
Avas now only attached to the Department of State Farms, and Avas at 
present engaged on one of them. Father Jose was also not present. 
This first piece of bad ncAvs made us feel really sorry for jioor Leal, but 
the second bit of information Avas still harder to bear: that probal)ly, iu 
the upset of the disgrace into Avhich he liad falhui he had forgotten 
to leave behind the fai4nha Avhich Ave had i)aid for. 
530. The small Fort, situate in 3° 1' 46" lat. N,, was erected at the 
time of the invasion of a detachment of S])aniards from New Guiana 
who in 1775 made their Avay up the Caroui and Uraricapara as far as 
