igh-domed volcanic rocks, and soon after to a rocky
island on our right, separated by a narrow channel from a larger and
thickly wooded island, 300 m. long and 100 m. wide--Georgia Island.

The rapids seemed to be getting worse and worse as we went down the
stream. After passing these three islands we came to a most dangerous
spot, the rapids there being strewn all over with nasty-looking rocks
which did not seem to leave a clear passage anywhere in a straight line.
After 500 m. of anxious travelling we encountered more rapids and
troublesome eddies. We had by that time got accustomed to the danger,
and even felt travelling dull and stupid when we came to a few metres of
placid water.

As we were going down a stretch of 3,000 m. to 350 deg. b.m. we found the
centre of the river blocked by great masses of rock; then, a little
farther, rocks occupied the left of the river. We went through a narrow
passage between those high rocks, finding ourselves carried away
helplessly into a rapid of alarming swiftness, which subsequently shot us
into a terrific whirlpool.

Alcides was steering us right into the centre of the terrifying rotating
waters, when I jumped up and, seizing the steering gear out of his hands,
was just able to avoid disaster. As it was, the canoe switched off at a
tangent with a heavy list to port, leapt out of the water like a flying
fish, and when she dropped again into the water was carried off at a
great speed, with a heavy list on and filling fast. I do not know why she
did not capsize altogether.

We then had rocks on the left side, rocks on the right side; a barrier of
many rocks across the entire stream, with a thickly wooded island, 70 m.
wide and 200 m. long--Lilian Island--on the left side. There were a great
many scattered rocks at the northern end of the island, where a small
rapid was found. Then we were confronted by 4,000 m. of river in a
straight line. We had gone but 2,000 m. along that stretch when we came
to a lovely rectangular island, with a spit of rock extending for 120 m.
eastward, and separated by a narrow channel from the island itself. The
island--Susan Island--was 100 m. broad and 250 m. long, with its
fore-part of gravel as usual. It was in a basin 500 m. wide.

The river turned to the W.S.W., and was there placid enough, although the
current was swift. Where the river flowed once more in a more northerly
direction we found rocks and two tiny wooded islands on the left side of