274 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
\June, 
paid their wages beforehand, so we now made them 
work it out. Those who had just returned from Barra, 
were not willing to go out again immediately, but we 
hoped to get plenty on entering the Uaupes. The same 
afternoon, we reached Sao Joaquim, at the mouth of that 
river ; but as there were no men there, we were obliged I 
to go on, and then commenced our real difficulties, for 
we had to encounter the powerful current of the over- 
flowing stream. At first some bays, in which there 
were counter-currents, favoured us ; but in more exposed 
parts, the waters rushed along with such violence, that 
our two paddles could not possibly move the canoe. 
We could only get on by pulling the bushes and creep- 
ers and tree-branches which line the margin of the river, 
now that almost all the adjacent lands were more or less 
flooded. The next day we cut long hooked poles, by which * 
we could pull and push ourselves along at all difficult 
points, with more advantage. Sometimes, for miles toge- 
ther, we had to proceed thus, — getting the canoe filled, and 
ourselves covered, with stinging and biting ants of fifty 
different species, each producing its own peculiar effect, 
from a gentle tickle to an acute sting ; and which, 
getting entangled in our hair and beards, and creeping 
over all parts of our bodies under our clothes, were not 
the most agreeable companions. Sometimes, too, we 
would encounter swarms of wasps, whose nests were con- 
cealed among the leaves, and who always make a most 
furious attack upon intruders. The naked bodies of the i 
Indians offered no defence against their stings, and they 
several times suffered while we escaped. Nor are 
the only inconveniences attending an up-stream voyage 
I 
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