and
Guapo took turns at it. It was not a very troublesome task, except
where some bend had to be got round, or some eddy was to be cleared,
when both had to work at it together. At other times the balza floated
straight on, without requiring the least effort on the part of the crew;
and then they would all sit down and chat pleasantly, and view the
changing scenery of the forest-covered shores. Sometimes tall palms
lined the banks, and sometimes great forest trees netted together by
thick parasites that crept from one to the other, and twined around the
trunks like monster serpents. Sometimes the shores were one unbroken
thicket of underwood, where it would have been almost impossible to make
a landing had they wished it. At other places there were sand-bars, and
even little islets with scarce any vegetation upon them; and they also
passed many other islets and large islands thickly wooded. The country
generally appeared to be flat, though at one or two places they saw
hills that ran in to the banks of the river.

Of course the change of scenery, and the many fresh vistas continually
opening before them, rendered their voyage both cheerful and
interesting. The many beautiful birds too, and new kinds of trees and
animals which they saw, were a constant source of varied enjoyment, and
furnished them with themes of conversation.

During the first day they made a journey of full forty miles. Having
brought their balza close to the shore, and secured it to a tree, they
encamped for the night. There was no opening of any extent, but for
some distance the ground was clear of underwood, and the trunks of great
old trees rose like columns losing themselves amidst the thick foliage
overhead. A dark forest only could be seen, and, as night drew on, the
horrid cries of the alouattes, or howling monkeys, mingling with the
voices of other nocturnal animals, filled the woods. They had no fear
of monkeys, but now and then they thought they could distinguish the cry
of the jaguar, and of him they had fear enough. Indeed the jaguar
possesses the power of imitating the cry of the other animals of the
forest, and often uses it to draw them within reach of him.

In addition to the fire upon which they had cooked their supper, as soon
as night had fairly set in, they kindled others, forming a sort of
semicircle, the chord of which was the bank of the river itself. Within
this semicircle the hammocks were stretched from tree t