ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
northeast to southwest at the turn of the river where the 
great Guanabara Island ended. 
Some 600 metres farther on a huge dome of rock 
like a spherical balloon was to be seen, with two smaller 
rocks by its side. A basin 400 metres wide was then 
found with an islet of sand 100 metres long on the left 
side, and a low islet of gravel partly wooded on the right 
side of the channel. These preceded another accumulation 
of sand and gravel 100 metres long with a few trees upon 
it, which was succeeded by a mass of rocks just before 
reaching a fair-sized island. 
Another great spherical rock was seen before entering 
the channel between the island and the left bank. In 
the extensive bay great boulders of indescribable beauty 
were visible. 
Several capivaras were basking in the sun on the top 
of the boulders, and were fired at many times by my 
men, as they stood up to gaze at us in astonishment before 
they made up their minds to jump into the water and 
escape. 
Close to those rocks an island, Teresa Island, 400 
metres long, was next admired. Strong rapids had to be 
gone through in a great barrier of rocks at the end of 
this island. Then no sooner were we thanking our stars 
that we had negotiated that portion of our journey safely, 
than we were among a lot of globular boulders, some thirty 
feet high. 
For 800 metres we had a placid time, the water of the 
stream being so beautifully green, so transparent, that we 
could see the bottom quite clearly. Our happiness did not 
last long. We had more rapids and a great rocky bank 
spreading from southeast to northwest right across the 
stream, and forming in one portion an island. 
We went down another strong rapid between great 
and dangerously situated rocks and a large island. Then 
came another wonderful group of high domed rocks, one 
108 
