ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
after to a rocky island on our right, separated by a narrow 
channel from a larger and thickly wooded island, 300 
metres long and 100 metres wide, Georgia Island. 
The rapids seemed to be getting worse and worse as 
we went down the stream. After passing these three 
islands we came to a most dangerous spot, the rapids there 
being strewn all over with nasty-looking rocks which did 
not seem to leave a clear passage anywhere in a straight 
line. After 500 metres of anxious travelling we en¬ 
countered more rapids and troublesome eddies; but we 
had by that time got accustomed to the danger, and even 
felt travelling dull and stupid when we came to a few 
metres of placid water. 
As we were going down a stretch of 3,000 metres to 
350° bearings magnetic we found the centre of the river 
blocked by great masses of rock; then, a little farther, 
rocks occupied the left of the river. We went through 
a narrow passage between those high rocks, finding 
ourselves carried helplessly into a rapid of alarming 
swiftness, which subsequently shot us into a terrific 
whirlpool. 
Alcides was steering us right into the centre of the 
terrifying rotating waters, when I jumped up and, seizing 
the steering gear out of his hands, was just able to avoid 
disaster. As it was, the canoe switched off at a tangent 
with a heavy list to port, leapt out of the water like a 
flying fish, and when sfte dropped again into the water 
was carried off at a great speed, with a heavy list on and 
filling fast. I do not know why she did not capsize 
altogether. 
We then had rocks on the left side, rocks on the right 
side; a barrier of many rocks across the entire stream, 
with a thickly wooded island, 70 metres wide and 200 
metres long, Lilian Island, on the left side. There were 
a great many scattered rocks at the northern end of the 
island, where a small rapid was found. Then we were 
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