A SMALL CLEARING 
mock to another tree, while poor Filippe and Benedicto, 
who had been caught in the foliage and branches of the 
falling tree, were trying to disentangle themselves from 
their unpleasant position. The tree had fallen because 
it had been eaten up internally by ants. When it came 
down upon us they simply swarmed over us, and bit us 
all over for all they were worth. I have no wish whatever 
to have another such miserable night. 
On September eighteenth we lost the whole morning, 
owing to the torrential rain, which continued. We had 
not the strength to go on. 
Now that Filippe and Benedicto had absolute faith 
in my compass, I had again left the river where it de¬ 
scribed a big turn toward the southwest, and it was not 
until two o’clock that afternoon that I struck the big 
stream once more and we followed its right bank. 
To our great delight we came to a small clearing 
where some years before mandioca had been cultivated. 
We threw down our loads at once and proceeded to search 
for roots. To pur great joy we found one small root, 
about as big as a small carrot. We made a fire. Oh! 
the anxiety in lighting that fire, as we had only eight 
matches left, and they had got damp. 
Filippe, who was the expert in striking matches, was 
entrusted with the job. Alas! he struck and struck, time 
after time, the first match against the box until its head 
was worn off altogether, and no flame was produced. 
With some anxiety we watched the second match meet 
a similar fate. 
The men said that the root we had found was of wild 
mandioca , and if we ate it raw we should certainly all 
die, but if roasted properly over a flame it lost some 
of its poisonous qualities. We all had our eyes fixed 
on that root, and felt the happiest of mortals, as if the 
most expensive banquet had all of a sudden been placed 
before us. It was a great relief when Filippe struck the 
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