ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
on the sleeves of my white shirt. They were so unaccus¬ 
tomed to see human beings that when touched they did 
not attempt to fly away. 
The river was getting more and more wonderful every 
hour as we went along in great straight lines of 3,500 
metres, 3,000 metres, 2,200 metres, 2,000 metres, 4,000 
metres, in length. 
Some ducks rose from the water only a few yards in 
front of the canoe. The man who was behind me fired 
with his carbine close to my head. The bullet grazed my 
right ear. It was a trifle trying to be travelling with such 
careless sportsmen, but the best thing was to say nothing 
and go on. 
A big island, Passos Island, 300 metres long, pre¬ 
ceded by a smaller islet 80 metres long, Passos Junior I., 
was subsequently passed, where the river formed a chan¬ 
nel (northwest), 50 metres wide and a minor one (west), 
30 metres. 
The river there changed from a westerly course to 
west-southwest. Once more we had before us a great 
wall of red rock, which at first seemed to bar our way. 
In the lower section of the wall was a cave eroded by 
water and extending some way back. It was too low to 
be entered by the canoe. The lower stratum of the wall 
was at an angle, in other words, had a dip of 21°, while 
the stratum above it, 30 feet in thickness, intersected by 
a yellow band, was perfectly horizontal. On the left side 
of this high natural wall was a charming waterfall of 
limpid water. Farther on a great land-slip displayed 
for a length of 40 metres brilliant red earth over a stratum 
60 feet thick of white chalk. The river which described a 
number of turns was bordered on the left side by a hill 
range covered with handsome trees. 
The ardour of my men for rowing had already passed 
away. They smoked and sang the whole time, and let 
the current, fortunately strong, carry us along. When- 
40 
