ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
Sharply pointed rocks, ugly and fearsome-looking, stood 
up everywhere. When eventually we did perceive a 
channel, down which we went, we found terrifying 
rapids followed by fearful eddies and a most alarming 
whirlpool. 
I could not measure the exact width of the basin there, 
as there was a regular maze of islands, and I could not 
well see from the canoe where the banks exactly were. 
A great island, 2,000 metres long, Normand Island, 
presently divided the river into two great channels, the 
northeasterly one of which we followed, finding more 
fearsome rapids and strong eddies, which knocked the 
canoe and us about in a dangerous manner. 
I was greatly concerned in going down all those rapids, 
as the canoe was now in a weakened condition. We had 
no way of repairing her, and I was afraid that, with the 
strain of the terrific current, if we had banged too hard 
against a rock, she might have split in two. I was not so 
anxious for myself as I was for my men, who would cer¬ 
tainly have been drowned, as four of them could not swim. 
Also, after all the trouble I had taken to make valuable 
botanical collections and a unique collection of photo¬ 
graphs, I was most anxious to bring them all back safely. 
I was particularly anxious to bring back to Europe the 
wonderful fossils I had collected on the plateau of Matto 
Grosso, which I had long ago packed in one of the cases 
that were fortunately among the things saved from the 
previous disasters. My men had invariably grumbled at 
having to carry that particular heavy box, when we had 
to unload the canoe and take the baggage on our heads 
or shoulders at the many rapids we had encountered. 
They had never once missed an occasion to remonstrate 
and swear at the absurdity of having to sweat to carry 
“ those blessed stones ” or “ the devil’s own stones ” as they 
called them. 
We had gone but a few thousand metres when we once 
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