GIGANTIC PALMS 
of delicious water descended into the Arinos from the 
left bank. 
Ten thousand five hundred metres farther down from 
Griselda Island we came to another island, 300 metres 
long and 50 metres broad, Negrino Island, with the usual 
spit of gravel and beautiful crystals on the south side. 
This island was 10 feet high above the water, with some 
trees on it, but not such luxuriant vegetation as on most 
of the other islands we had seen. 
A stream five metres wide at the mouth, coming from 
the north-northwest, entered the Arinos on the right side. 
The main river had a direction of 305° bearings magnetic, 
that is to say, virtually northwest. Great volcanic slabs 
of rock and sand-banks were now reached. 
The sun was not extraordinarily hot — 90° Fahrenheit 
at noon. The country on either side was open, chiefly 
chapada. Beautiful gravel beaches were now seen, ex¬ 
tending half way across the river, particularly from the 
left side. 
Another tributary five metres wide coming from the 
north-northeast was passed on our right, and beyond this 
a thick forest with rubber trees was visible, while chapada 
continued on the left. 
Round a big basin 200 metres in diameter, containing 
shallow water from one to six feet deep, stood a mass of 
gigantic trees with verdant healthy foliage, and innumer¬ 
able abnormally tall burity palms, over 100 feet high, and 
tucum {Astro car yum tucuma), also of immense size. 
Many huge trinchdo fish followed our canoe for some 
time, gazing curiously at us. They came so impudently 
near that my men actually hit them on the head with their 
paddles. 
One more streamlet entered the Arinos on the right 
side just before we reached a big basin, 250 metres in 
diameter, with wonderful gravel beaches in regular little 
mounds stretching half way across the basin. Another 
55 
