48 Botanical Reminiscences. 
height of the tree with his intelligent eyes, but downhearted, 
he shook his head not venturing the hazard. 
On my return to the camp, the hunters one after the other 
made their appearance, but empty-handed. A few Toucans 
were the only booty of the hunting excursion. 
The following day we were to scale the sandstone ridge, 
and the cool morning was considered the best time for it, 
therefore the first rays of the sun found us in motion. The 
valley in a western direction was followed along the base of the 
Humirida, and crossing a small tributary of the Muyang we 
arrived at the place which was pointed out to us as the 
passage across the mountain, and although the ^ascent of the 
perpendicular stone wall seemed to us an impossibility, we 
were assured by our guides, who had travelled this road 
before, that though it was somewhat difficult it was possible. 
The mountain was entirely bare of all trees, and only covered 
here and there with low shrubs. 
The hazardous feat was undertaken. Between colossal 
sandstone rocks we ascended. After the lapse of an hour we 
had not reached half-way ; our strength was exhausted, our 
panting breast and trembling knees compelled us to rest 
every minute, and the scorching rays of the sun, from which 
we were unprotected, exhausted the little energy left us. 
We Europeans looked miserable objects, and yet we had 
nothing to carry but our walking-sticks ; the Indians, who 
were laden with heavy burdens, fastened by means of a broad 
band around the forehead, were scaling the rocks with ease 
and activity, although the perspiration came down their 
bodies like a stream, as if they walked on even ground. 
Our long Indian file moved like a serpent over the steep 
precipices. After an ascent lasting for several hours, we 
reached the base of the stone wall, which was about 600 feet 
high. To attempt the further dangerous ascent was at 
present impossible for us Europeans ; we had first to collect 
our exhausted strength. 
Mosses, Lichens, relieved the dull rock to some extent, 
while the crevices and recesses were covered with several 
kinds of Orchids and shrubs of a Piperacece, the strong roots 
of the latter forming a network on the rock, which was some 
assistance to us in our ascent. 
There certainly was a possibility of scaling the rock by 
means of this network, which could be used like a rope 
ladder ; yet this was only depending on dauntless courage, the 
