n confronted by a large basin enclosed on the north by a
crescent-shaped wall 100 ft. high, at the foot of which at the level of
the river was a quantity of debris of yellow rock. The river at that spot
turned sharply from 20 deg. b.m. (N.N.E.) to 290 deg. b.m.--that is to say,
almost north-west. The width of the Arinos at this point was from 80 to
100 m.

Towards sunset we came to a beautiful island 200 m. long. We cleared a
sufficiently large space in the dense and gorgeous vegetation to make our
camp for the night.

CHAPTER V

Great Islands--The Trinchao Fish--A Fisherman's Paradise--Alastor
Island--Plentiful Rubber--The Civilized Man's Idea of the
Tropical Forest--The War-Cries of the Indians--Swarms of Bees and
Butterflies

WE had another cool night on July 12th--minimum temperature 47 deg. F. It was
very damp, and in the morning we had, as on the previous day, a thick
mist which prevented our starting until it cleared up, at 7.40 a.m. The
mist rose in columns and square blocks over the warmish water of the
river. The right bank of the Arinos was 40 ft. high.

We had gone some 1,500 m. from our camp when we came to a magnificent
island, 400 m. long and 200 m. wide--Griselda Island--which divided the
stream into two channels.

All the islands we had seen of late showed on the up-stream side a more
or less extensive spit of beautifully coloured gravel and glittering
crystals. The latter shone in the sun with such iridescent luminosity
that it gave those islands a fairy-like appearance.

We encountered troublesome eddies which swung the canoe about, and in one
case actually spun her completely round in a most alarming manner,
tearing out of Alcides' hands the steering gear, which we had some
trouble in recovering.

There were many handsome large-leafed _pacova_, somewhat resembling
banana palms; also quantities of _Siphonia elastica_, although these were
not quite so plentiful as farther south nor the trees so high. A tiny
brook of delicious water descended into the Arinos from the left bank.

Ten thousand five hundred metres farther down from Griselda Island we
came to another island, 300 m. long and 50 m. broad--Negrino Island--with
the usual spit of gravel and beautiful crystals on the south side. This
island was 10 ft. high above the water, with some trees on it, but not
such luxuriant vegetation as on most of the other islands we had seen.

A stream 5 m. wide at the mouth,