AN OBSTINATE CREW 
on its southern side. Pretty yellow flowers grew wherever 
a little earth had accumulated upon the rocks. 
After going 1,800 metres we found a great basin 
600 metres wide with a rocky island and barrier right 
across it. 
Farther on innumerable rocks of all sizes could be 
seen on the left bank; and 1,500 metres beyond these, 
where a solid rock rose in the centre of the stream, eddies 
of wonderful power were produced in the stream. 
We glanced at a magnificent island of rock on the left 
side as we sped along swiftly with the current; but we 
were so busy with the difficult navigation, and expecting 
accidents at any moment — what else could I expect with 
the disobedient, unpractical, obstinate crew I had with 
me? — that I had not much time to admire the pic¬ 
turesqueness of the scenery. 
I had quite foreseen that it was impossible to avoid 
disaster sooner or later, so that all I could do was to 
think of which would be the best way to minimize its 
effects, when it did come. 
In the great circular basin which was formed in the 
river there was a passage to the west, which I did not like 
at all, so I ordered my men to follow the passage to the 
northeast. We met there violent eddies which knocked 
the canoe about in a most alarming manner soon after we 
had descended a short rapid of some steepness. 
Our baggage was simply soaked owing to the amount 
of water we had shipped on various occasions during the 
day. We saw ahead of us, only a short distance off, a 
rapid of some magnitude. We decided to halt at four 
o’clock in order that we might go and explore on foot 
along the bank and see whether the canoe could be navi¬ 
gated down, or if we had better unload her and let her 
down with ropes. We cut a space in the forest, which was 
there thick, in order to make our camp. We spread all 
our things to dry during the night. The air was stifling 
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