cloaks, to
obtain some rest. Scarcely was I asleep when I felt something pitch
down upon my nose. I looked up, but no one was near me. I went to
sleep again, when my head got a disagreeable thump, and so it went on.
At last I shifted my position, but still the knocks continued, though I
was too sleepy to heed them. Awaking at daylight I looked up, and in
the trees overhead I discovered a large family of monkeys, who had, I
doubt not, thus been amusing themselves at my expense. We were speedily
again under weigh, and the stream running rapidly, we made, I dare say,
from forty to fifty miles a day. We passed two or three rapids, down
which we had to lower our canoe, and to carry her cargo by land. One
was so dangerous that we judged it safer to haul her on shore, and to
drag her over the ground to the lower side. This we did by means of
rollers placed under her bottom, but the operation occupied us a whole
day, and so weary were we, that we were very thankful the Indians did
not think of attacking us that night. After this, the river became deep
and free from obstructions of all kinds, so that we were able to allow
the canoe to drop down the stream at night, two at a time only paddling,
while the others slept. In this manner we made rapid progress.
Sometimes, when there were no signs of natives, we landed, and built
huts to rest in at night. We generally took these occasions to catch
turtle, while our Indians went to hunt in the neighbourhood, and never
failed to bring us back a supply of game. In about ten days after our
escape from the Cashibos, we sighted a village built close to the banks
of the river. It consisted of only eight or ten houses, but then each
house was of great extent, with many divisions, and was the habitation
of a considerable number of families. The sides were of cane, without
any cement between the interstices, and the roofs were neatly formed of
palm leaves. A turn of the river brought us upon it before we had time
to pull to the opposite side, when a number of the inhabitants came
forth with _pacunas_, their deadly blow-pipes, in their hands, prepared
to shoot at us. Our Indians instantly hailed them, and informed them
that a great chief was in the canoe, and entreated their hospitality.
After a short consultation a friendly reply was given, and we pulled to
the shore. As soon as we landed they came down and led us up to their
houses.

There was something agreeable in their count