ill range
from east to west, 300 ft. high, ran along the left bank. Farther, where
the river went to the north-east for 4,000 m., laminated rock like slate
showed through the left bank, especially in a semicircular indentation
which had been eroded by the water. There a strong whirlpool had formed.
Another great stretch of river, 5,500 m., was now before us, with a small
hill 80 ft. high on the right bank. The river next formed a circular
basin with three islets and a barrier 500 m. across.

We were now in a region where, fortunately for us, _castanheiro_ trees
(_vulgo._ the "Para chestnut") were to be found. Fish was scarce in the
river. Now that we had almost superhuman work to accomplish, our meals
were extremely scanty owing to the loss of our provisions, and we had
not sufficient food to keep up our strength.

As we went on I saw to the north-east of us another hill-range 300 ft.
high, extending from north-west to south-east, like most of the ranges
found in that region. Where a prominent headland stood on the left side,
with a hill 250 ft. high upon it, the river turned to 30 deg. b.m. The hill
was made up of foliated rock lying in strata that varied from one inch to
one foot in thickness.

On the right side of the stream great cubic blocks of rock rested on the
polished curves of a huge dome of granite. A quantity of debris stretched
from south to north right across the basin, and caused a deviation in the
stream.

[Illustration: Conveying the Canoe across the Forest on an
Improvised Railway and Rollers.]

A terrific rapid with a sheer drop of 3 ft. was situated here. A double
whirlpool of great magnitude was formed at the bottom of the rapid, the
water revolving with such force that the concavity was gradually
depressed for some 3 ft. and had a great hole in each centre. We shot
that rapid. As Alcides on that occasion followed my instructions, the
canoe shot past between the two whirlpools, and although even then she
nearly capsized, we were able to continue, my men shrieking with
merriment at what they now believed to be their invulnerability. We
dodged the unpleasant eddies while we floated with great speed in the
strong current.

The river, which had contracted that day to 250 m., now expanded once
more into a large basin 1,200 m. wide and 1,800 m. long, with most
troublesome eddies as we went through it. The river described a great
turn from N.N.E. to 180 deg. b.m. or due south.

To add to the pleas