t with a mere
deviation of 20 deg. for 6,500 m.

The stream was then 100 metres wide nearly all along, and of amazing
beauty. Yet another stony place disturbed the placidity of the
transparent crystal-like water. At the end of that wonderful stretch of
river came another great vertical wall, on the left side--of most
brilliant colouring, a stratum of vivid red 60 ft. deep with thin bright
horizontal yellow streaks, and an upper stratum 18 ft. thick of a similar
dazzling yellow. The northern portion of the cliff differed in colouring,
and had a brown lower stratum 30 ft. thick, followed upwards by a yellow
stratum 2 ft. thick, and a red stratum--a most brilliant vermilion--15
ft. thick. Above was a pink layer 15 ft. thick and a summit deposit of
brown earth 45 ft. deep. There again the river was shifted by that
obstacle from b.m. 290 deg. to due north. A charming island--which I baptized
Bridget Island--700 m. long and 100 m. wide, absolutely smothered in
vegetation, was found there. It had an extensive spur of yellow sand and
gravel. The right bank was sparsely wooded with open country behind. Two
channels were found, one flowing north-west, 40 m. wide, the other
north-east, 30 m. broad. We followed the latter, where the rapids seemed
less fearsome than in the broader channel.

At the end of Bridget Island another island, 500 m. long, was found,
which we called Lucky Island. This second island was 200 m. down stream
from the first, and was situated at the junction of the River dos Patos
("river of ducks") with the River Arinos on the right side of the latter
stream.

We were amazed to see opposite the island on the right bank a fishing
tackle and some clothes. As we had already gone 89 kil. 850 m. that day,
having kept an average speed of 11 kil. 250 m. an hour, and the sun was
about to set, we decided to halt on "Lucky Island" for the night. We were
busy preparing our dinner when a strange figure appeared on the right
bank, rifle in hand. His astonishment at seeing us was no greater than
ours at seeing him.

"Who were we?" "Where did we come from?" "What did we want there?" "Where
were we going?"

All those questions having been duly answered, I sent my canoe over to
ferry the fellow across. He was one of the queerest men I have ever met.
His eyes constantly roamed about like those of a wild feline animal. He
never kept still a moment, springing up unexpectedly to his feet when he
was sitting down, and squatting