ther river, up which the canoes had been carried.

"Then let us build a raft as we proposed," said Arthur. "If we do not
return to-night, we shall alarm your sister and John. The current is in
our favour, and we shall have no difficulty in descending to our camp."

At once we tried to explain to our friends what we proposed doing.
Several other persons appeared, but they were mostly old men and women.
The rest had evidently gone off to the war. We began by cutting down
some small trees which grew at the edge of the igarape. Then we cut
some sipos, and formed an oblong frame of sufficient size to support
three or four people. After a little time Duppo comprehended our
purpose, and we saw him explaining the matter to his people. Several of
them on this set to work on a clump of bamboos which grew at a little
distance, and brought them to us. Looking about, we also discovered
some long reeds growing on the margin of the swamp at no great distance.
Arthur and I collected as many as we could carry, and the natives,
following our example, soon supplied us with what we required. Having
fastened the bamboos lengthways on the frame, we secured the reeds both
under and above them, till we had completely covered over the framework.
The whole machine we strengthened by passing long sipos round it, and
thus in a short time had a buoyant and sufficiently strong raft to carry
us safely, we hoped, down the igarape. The natives had been watching
our proceedings with looks of surprise, as if they had never seen a
similar construction. We had cut a couple of long poles with which to
push on the raft. "I think we should be the better for paddles,"
observed Arthur. One of the trees, we found, very easily split into
boards. We soon made three paddles, agreeing that a third would be
useful, in case one should break. "But perhaps Duppo would be willing
to accompany us," said Arthur. "He seems a very intelligent fellow.
Shall we ask him?"

We soon made our young friend comprehend our wishes. He was evidently
well pleased with the proposal, though his mother at first seemed to
hesitate about letting him go. We pressed her, explaining that we would
reward him well for his services. Our point gained, Duppo's
preparations were quickly made. He brought with him his zarabatana or
blow-pipe, his bow, and a quiver full of arrows, as also a basket of
farinha, apparently supposing that we might be unable to provide him
with food. Se