1848.] 
AJIOYAS. 
73 
and confused, dipping in various directions about 12°, 
with volcanic masses rising up among them. As nearly 
as we could judge by the distances we had come, these 
rapids must be in about 4° of south latitude, where a 
considerable bend in the river occurs. Above are nu- 
merous falls and rapids, and after a time the forest 
ceases and open undulating plains are found. From 
the point we reached, the country becomes very inter- 
esting, and we much regretted that we were unable to 
explore it further. 
On our return to Aroyas, our men, while descending 
the various smaller rapids, shouted and sang in the 
most wild and excited manner, and appeared to enjoy it 
amazingly. They had had a hard day’s work, having 
paddled and poled about twenty miles against a power- 
ful current, in some places so strong as to require all 
their exertions to keep the boats head up the stream. 
At Aroyas we took some coffee, and then turned into 
our redes in an open shed, about twelve feet square, at 
the back part of the house, and where six or eight other 
members of the family also found room for themselves. 
We were kept awake some time by our pilot, who had 
got drunk on caxa^a, and was very violent and abusive, 
so to quiet him we administered another glass or two, 
which soon had the desired sedative effect. The next 
morning he looked very dull and sheepish ; in fact, most 
of the Tapuyas, or half-civilized Indians, consider it 
rather disgraceful to get drunk, and seem ashamed of 
it afterwards. 
After paying our hostess in biscuit, tea, and sugar, 
which were great luxuries to her, we started on our re- 
