ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
river gradually swung round to due north, a most beauti¬ 
ful view opening before us as we got round the sweeping 
curve. For 5,000 metres the river now ran in a perfectly 
straight line, with its beautiful clear water flowing over a 
rocky bed. In the far distance loomed the first range of 
mountains we had seen since leaving the Serra Azul. I 
had become so tired of gazing at a flat horizon line that 
the sight of the range gave me unbounded pleasure. But 
I had not much time to gaze upon the scenery, for 
rocks of all sizes and shapes were strewn all along the 
channel. 
Two small islets, each twenty metres long, were passed 
on the right bank. Then came more picturesque groups of 
rock on the right and on the left of us as we paddled gaily 
along, and refreshing accumulations of pure white sand. 
Farther on, an island fifty metres wide and sixty metres 
long, with a southerly crown of huge boulders, Corona 
Island, was to be seen close to the right bank. 
Some thousand metres before we got to the end of the 
long stretch, yet another elongated island fifty metres long 
lay close to the left bank. The island was thickly wooded. 
From that spot a basin fully 1,000 metres broad spread 
out. The easterly portion was a mass of rock, exposed 
a few feet above the surface. These rocks extended right 
across the basin as far as an island 350 metres long, 
Josephine Island. The vegetation was indescribably 
beautiful in that part. Immense quantities of rubber 
trees stood majestically so far unknown and untouched in 
the luxuriant forest. 
Eight distinct groups of rocks were found on the right- 
hand side of the river where it flowed for 4,000 metres in 
a north-northwesterly direction. I took forty-two sights 
of the sun that day in order to determine the exact latitude 
and longitude. Latitude 10° 48'.9 south; longitude 58° 
0' west. 
When we left again in the afternoon the river, there 
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