t was easier said than done, even
when you possessed your full strength. So many were the ants of all sizes
which attacked you with fury the moment you embraced the tree, that it
was not easy to get up more than a few feet.

When we drew lots as to whom of us should climb the tree, Benedicto was
the one selected by fate. Benedicto was certainly born under an unlucky
star; when anything nasty or unpleasant happened to anybody it was
always to poor Benedicto. After a lot of pressing he proceeded to go up
the tree, uttering piercing yells as every moment great _sauba_ ants bit
his arms, legs or body. He was brave enough, and slowly continued his way
up until he reached a height of some 30 ft. above the ground, from which
eminence he gave us the interesting news that there were some high hills
standing before us to the west, while to the north-west was a great flat
surface covered by dense forest.

No sooner had Benedicto supplied us with this information from his high
point of vantage than we heard an agonising yell and saw him spread flat
on the ground, having made a record descent.

Filippe and I, although suffering considerably, were in fits of laughter
at Benedicto, who did not laugh at all, but pawed himself all over,
saying he must have broken some bones. When I proceeded to examine him I
found upon his body over a hundred _sauba_ ants clinging to his skin with
their powerful clippers.

Aching all over, poor Benedicto got up once more. I put the load upon his
back and we resumed our journey, making a precipitous descent almost _a
pic_ down the hill side. Our knees were so weak that we fell many times
and rolled down long distances on that steep incline. At last we got to
the bottom, rejoicing in our hearts that we had no more hills to climb,
as I had made up my mind that I would now march slightly to the
north-west, so as to avoid the hilly region which Benedicto had
discovered to the west.

My men had an idea that the great river we were looking for must be in
that plain. For a few hours they seemed to have regained their courage.
We heard some piercing shrieks, and we at once proceeded in their
direction, as we knew they came from monkeys. In fact we found an
enormously high tree, some 5 ft. in diameter. Up on its summit some
beautiful yellow fruit stared us in the face. Four tiny monkeys were busy
eating the fruit. Benedicto, who had by that time become very religious,
joined his hands and offered prayers to