practically the whole northern half of the continent,
and these streams are formed in their turn by the heavy rains which
fall frequently from swiftly-gathered clouds. In fact, it rains nearly
every afternoon in Para, and the air is always moist, so much so, that
articles made of steel and iron quickly rust, and furniture must be
pegged together rather than glued to keep it from coming apart.

Paul and Bob found Para quite a good-sized city, but on very low
ground. Along the docks of the mighty river were many kinds of boats
and ships, from stately ocean-liners to the tub-like barges used to
float down from Bolivia great cargoes of raw rubber. There were
numerous schooners unloading vegetables and fruit, and countless
dugouts paddled by natives. Cargadores, in their bare feet, were
carrying goods in and out of the various large craft, supporting the
heaviest of bundles on their bare heads. Their faces were all shades
of white, brown, and black. Among them were negroes from Jamaica, and
Spaniards, Portuguese, and mulattoes from all parts of Brazil.

The business buildings were three and four stories high, and built
close to the sidewalks along narrow streets. Their walls, the boys
noticed as they crowded their way along, were of all colors, some being
faced with blue, yellow, and green porcelain tiles.

By asking questions they found the telegraph office, and there sent the
message to Mr. Giddings at Panama, requesting that the helium-gas be
sent to Nukahiva by fastest boat. They also wired a report of their
progress. They had by this time another roll of exposed kodak films,
and this was mailed to the _Daily Independent_.

No sooner had they reappeared from the post-office than they were once
more besieged with peddlers asking them to make a purchase of their
wares. Paul and Bob stopped when they saw some particularly
luscious-looking oranges and bananas, and were surprised upon asking
the price to find that they could have a dozen of each kind for the
value of five cents; and oh! how sweet and juicy they were when they
sank a tooth into them.

They bought some baked goods in a little shop, and as they emerged an
old man with a parrot on one shoulder and a small monkey on the other
blocked their pathway, and begged them to look at "nice parryote, nice
monk."

They shook their heads, when they saw other vendors crowding forward,
and were about to push by when the monkey sprang nimbly upon Paul's own
sho