ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
Victor Emmanuel Island came to an end, the length of 
the island being some fourteen kilometres. We had great 
fun just before leaving, the ariranhas coming boldly to 
attack us as we were getting into the canoe. Our dogs, 
which had been squealing and growling the whole night at 
the unmusical shrieks of the ariranhas ■, now jumped into 
the water, and there was a fierce fight between them and 
the amphibious animals. My men, as usual, fired a great 
many shots. Eventually we recovered our dogs and 
started off once more on our journey. 
The river flowed from that point at first mostly in a 
northeasterly direction and in a somewhat winding course; 
then gradually tended toward the northwest. In the 
western part of a large basin 1,200 metres broad were two 
islands and innumerable rocks. Then, farther on, one 
more long rocky barrier extended from northwest to 
southeast in the northwestern part of the basin. Once 
more did we have to let the canoe down the terrific rapids 
by means of ropes. 
Where the river turned to the northwest it was 500 
metres wide and most beautiful. A great many islands 
were seen, and innumerable rocks barred the entrance of 
the channel at the end of the basin above described. Soon 
after, however, we entered another basin, 1,000 metres 
wide, with more islands and rapids fairly easy to negotiate. 
Once more did the river turn due north for 6,000 metres, 
after we had gone over another swift and most trouble¬ 
some rapid, where we had to unload our baggage and 
take the canoe down carefully with ropes. After that we 
entered a long channel strewn with rocks. We had not 
gone far when another strong rapid was encountered, 
over another great barrier of rock. No sooner had we 
negotiated that difficult passage than another great barrier 
of rock, also from southwest to northeast, had to be gone 
over through a troublesome rapid. 
My men were getting tired of exploring and were 
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