um temperature on the night of August 15th of 70 deg. F.

We descended the All Saints rapid and fall, 150 m. in length, with no
great difficulty, although with a certain amount of hard work.

A large basin was below it, in the eastern part of which was a charming
island. Innumerable rubber trees (_Siphonia elastica_) were to be seen in
that region. We found the south-east passage the best in descending that
rapid; but, although comparatively easy, we had to use the greatest care,
as my canoe was by now falling to pieces, and a hard knock against a rock
would be fatal.

At the eastern end of the basin was a narrow channel between high rocks,
where the current was extremely strong. A cluster of high vertical
columnar rocks was seen. The three channels into which the river had been
divided joined again in that basin, and were forced through a passage
between high vertical rocky walls not more than 35 m. apart.

The water naturally was much troubled in being forced from different
sides through that narrow passage, and I knew that there must be danger.
We pulled up the canoe along some rocks 50 or 60 m. from the entrance of
the channel, and I instructed two men to land and go and explore, to see
what was in the channel. The top rocks in that particular spot formed
innumerable little points, quite sharp, and it was painful to walk on
them with bare feet.

Antonio and white Filippe, who had been instructed to go and reconnoitre,
went a short distance away, where they sat themselves down behind some
rocks, comfortably smoking cigarettes. After twenty minutes or so they
returned and said they had gone all along the channel, and there was
absolutely smooth water and no danger whatever. I was not well satisfied
with their answer, but they swore they had inspected the channel
thoroughly, and there was no danger. So I ordered them to enter the boat
once more, and we started off.

No sooner had we turned the corner round the high rocky cliffs and
entered the narrow gorge than we were confronted by a huge central wave
some 40 ft. high in the channel. It was formed by the clashing waters,
coming from three different directions, meeting at that spot and trying
to push through simultaneously. Before we knew where we were the canoe
actually flew up in the air, in an almost vertical position, to the top
of that enormous wave.

[Illustration: A Moment of Suspense.

Author and his men in their canoe going through a narrow channel bet