oying their _feijao_ (boiled
beans)--we continued our journey. The river for 9,000 m. displayed first
clean _campos_ and _chapada_ on the left bank and dense forest on the
right, then _campos_ on the right bank and a belt of forest along the
river on the left.

The _campos_ were particularly neat in that region--merely a few _burity_
and _tucum_ palms flourishing on the edge of the water. In other
localities a thick growth of beautiful bamboos interspersed with gigantic
palms lined the banks.

Where the river turned due east we came to fairly strong rapids. The
water was shallow with mounds of gravel, and we bumped about a great
deal. Eventually we all had to get into the water and push the canoe
along for greater comfort.

The river next formed a huge basin, 900 m. long and 200 m. wide. A small
tributary flowed into the Arinos in the crescent-shaped bank on the
right. That bank had a height of 80 ft. On its summit quantities of
_Siphonia elastica_ were to be admired. Farther down it was on the left
side that the river had high banks, some 60 ft. high.

We went over a charming little _corrideira_. Strong eddies were
encountered on emerging from the rapids. Where the right bank became
lower--only 40 ft.--_chapada_ replaced the forest. The left bank was but
1 ft. above the level of the river, and the low country beyond (south)
was naturally liable to inundation. For 4,000 m. the left bank was never
higher than 4 ft. The right bank also suddenly became very low in that
region.

Where the river turned from 290 deg. b.m. to 320 deg. b.m., there was a basin
700 m. broad with low banks. An island--Lydia Island--200 m. in
circumference, rose within this basin on the north side and was
luxuriantly wooded.

We found that day beautiful beaches of gravel, mostly on the right side.
Then strong rapids and _corrideiras_; below these more clean-looking
gravel beaches--this time on the left--were visible, and an extensive
island of gravel close to the right bank.

For 8,000 m. the gorgeous stream flowed almost in a direct line
northward, with dense forest and a wealthy growth of rubber trees on both
sides. Wonderful _figueira_ trees with their spotless white branches
embellished the landscape.

On the left a tributary of some size entered the Arinos from the
south-east in two arms with an island between; the largest arm was 40 m.
wide, the smaller 10 m. Then another stream entered the Arinos on the
right side.

We were agai