their moral nature to perform the service for one another. That they
roam in great flocks through the canela forests, and devour with avidity
the blossoms of these trees, is undoubtedly a fact--of which our
travellers had the evidence of their own eyes while on their journey up
the river Napo.

They were passing a place where these wild cinnamon-trees lined the
banks of the stream; and, in order to make a closer examination of such
an interesting species, Alexis landed from the _periagua_, Ivan went
along with him--taking his double-barrelled gun, in hopes of getting a
shot at something. In one barrel he had a bullet, while the other was
loaded with shot--so that he was prepared for any sort of game that
might turn up, either beasts or birds. Alexis, as usual, carried his
rifle.

It was their intention to walk for some distance up the bank. There was
a sandy strip between the water and the trees--which would enable them
to make way without difficulty--and it is only where this occurs that
the banks of the Amazonian rivers can be followed on foot. Generally,
the thick forest comes down to the very water's edge; and there is no
pathway except an occasional track followed by the chiguires, tapirs,
and other animals; but, as these creatures only open the underwood to
the height of their own bodies, all above that is a matted labyrinth of
leaves and llanos, that form an impenetrable barrier to the passage of
anything so tall as a man. The Indians themselves rarely follow these
paths, but keep to their canoes or periaguas.

Seeing this fine open sand-bar, which appeared to stretch for miles
above them, our young travellers, tired of sitting upon the _toldo_,
determined to stretch their legs in a walk; and, directing the capataz
to keep up the river and take them in above, they set out along the
bank--now and then dipping into the woods, wherever an opening showed
itself, and examining such rare natural objects as attracted their
attention.

Pouchskin did not go with them; and the reason was that, some days
before, Pouchskin had encountered a mishap, by which he was laid up
lame. The cause of his lameness was simply that some _chigas_ had got
between his toes; and not having been extracted in time, had there laid
their eggs, and caused a terrible inflammation to his feet. A
misfortune that frequently happens in tropical countries. The wound
caused by the _chiga_, though not absolutely of fatal consequences, is
ve