206 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
others, the canoe was dragged and pushed in narrow 
. channels, which hardly allowed it to pass. The Indians, 
all naked, with their trowsers tied round their loins, 
plunged about in the water like fishes. Sometimes a 
projecting crag had to be reached with the tow-rope. 
An Indian takes it in his hand, and leaps into the rapid 
current : he is carried down by its irresistible force. 
Now he dives to the bottom, and there swims and crawls 
along, where the stream has less power. After two or 
three trials, he reaches the rock, and tries to mount upon 
it ; but it rises high and abruptly out of the water, and 
after several efforts he falls back exhausted, and floats 
down again to the canoe amid the mirth and laughter of 
his comrades. Another now tries, with the same result. 
Then another plunges in without the rope, and thus un- 
encumbered mounts on the rock and gives a helping 
hand to his companion ; and then all go to work, and we 
are pulled up past the obstacle. 
But a little ahead of us is an extensive mass of rocks. 
There is no passage for the canoe, and we must cross to 
yonder islet far in the middle of the stream, where, by 
the height of the water, Senhor L. and the pilot judge 
we shall find a passage. Every stone, even those under 
water, form eddies or returning currents, where a canoe 
can rest in its passage. Off we go, to try to reach one 
of them. In a moment we are in a stream running like 
a mill-race : Pull away, boys \” shouts Senhor L. We 
are falling swiftly down the river. There is a strong t 
rapid carrying us, and we shall be dashed against those^-' 
black masses just rising above the foaming waters. “ All 
right, boys cries Senhor L. ; and just as we seemed inf^l 
