ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
there was to be seen an immense quantity of beautiful 
rubber trees, as yet untouched by human being. The 
river kept its width of 200 metres. After passing chapada 
on the left bank for some three kilometres, we came to 
magnificent forest, this time on both sides, with a luxuri¬ 
ant growth of rubber trees. 
The scene, in its wonderful quietude, was most im¬ 
pressive. It made one's heart bleed to think that such 
rich land should lie unknown and unexploited in these 
enlightened and enterprising days of the twentieth 
century. 
The sky above us was always interesting, with its 
typical filaments of mist, their lengthy radiations faintly 
marked upon the vivid blue of the sky vault and making 
a centre in the north. These radiations were, in appear¬ 
ance, not unlike giant ostrich feathers. They were 
formed, I think, over the great streams which flowed 
northwards into the Amazon. 
We were troubled that day with numerous eddies 
and shallow water, owing to the great width of the river. 
Innumerable mounds of gravel rose in the centre of the 
stream up to a few inches below the water level. 
Another hill range 100 feet high met that day was 
crescent-shaped, the arc of a circle thus described being 
from southeast by east to northeast. 
The hill range on the northeast side of us was eroded, 
exposing a red vertical wall sixty feet high. A small river 
two metres wide coming from the east entered the Arinos 
on the right bank. 
For 8,500 metres from that point the stream had an 
average width of 250 metres and was really magnificent 
with the wonderful cleanliness of the water; not the 
slightest impurity, not a speck of wood or a leaf floated 
upon its surface. 
Fourteen kilometres of heavenly navigation, barring 
X’s language and the comments of his companions, and 
64 
