DIFFICULT PASSAGE. 
347 
: 1852 .] 
seen, — msliing amongst huge rocks down a descent of 
perhaps fifteen or twenty feet. The only way of passing 
this, was to pull the canoe over the dry rock, which rose 
considerably above the level of the water, and was rather 
I rugged, being interrupted in places by breaks or steps 
two or three feet high. The canoe was accordingly 
unloaded, quantities of poles and branches cut and laid 
in the path to prevent the bottom being much injured 
by the rocks, and a messenger sent to the village on the 
other side of the river, to request the Tushaua to come 
I with plenty of men to our assistance. He soon arrived 
; with eleven Indians, and all hands set to work pushing 
l| the canoe, or pulling at the sipos ; and even then, the 
j strength of five-and-twenty persons could only move 
it by steps, and with great difficulty. However, it was 
at length passed, and we then proceeded to the village, 
where the Tushaua lent us a house. 
I The canoe was so weak in the bottom in one place, 
i| 
j that I was fearful of some accident in my descent, so I 
; determined to stay here two or three days, to cut out the 
I weak part and put in a strong board. I now also saw 
that this canoe was much too heavy to proceed further 
5 up the river, as at many of the falls there was no assist- 
ance to be obtained, even in places as difficult to pass as 
Carurii; so I opened negotiations to purchase a very 
large oba ” of the Tushaua, which, before leaving, I ef- 
fected for an axe, a shirt and trowsers, two cutlasses, 
I and some beads. We were delayed here five entire days, 
owing to the difficulty of finding a tree of good wood, 
sufficiently large to give a board of twelve or fourteen 
I inches wide; and at last I was obliged to be content 
