Year: 1871

party Of seamen should push forward In the row
launch. Accompanied by a guide, the commander
OF the river. For about three miles the current was
not impeded, but suddenly there came In sight some
thing like


FLOATING MEADOW,


and, upon examination It was found that the object
Of % wonder was no other than large field o. gysna,
getner and groMWng to tn the height OF ten or Twelve
which nowing at the rate OF two or tI,Co KNOTS
an hour, extended over six miles, and thus block
a tortuous passage through the trees surrounding
which the water was some fifteen or twenty feet
deep. Having successfully cleared the Darrlcade,
the launch again pursued her course, but mad
gone scarcely halr mile when similar difficulty
presented itself, which was overcome after terri
BILE amount OF energetic podding and patience.
The party left behind In charge OF MIR. Barnes ana
Mr.. Kunhardt being unable TO proceed in the steam
launch, owing to the many obstacles In the river
were ordered to move on as best they could and
take Reconnaissance SO that they would be enabled
to meet Commander Selfrldge and report on his re-.
Ing good headway, and at sundown on the 81
January the party halted, having passed Cano Union
In the afternoon. The usual visit OF the mosquitoes
was paid to the explorers just as they were com
posing themselves TO sleep. The assault was vigor-
Gus, and it is unnecessary to add that the winged
beslegers were entirely triumphant. Starting at
daylight the explorers proceeded slowly for great
were the barriers met with that on two three oc-
water and hauled over the noating snags
That night an old indian camp was discovered
in little piece Of high ground where the launch





were lndulged with hard tack and bacon. Torrents
OF rain came pouring down for hours, SO that the
point the river became much wider. There being
nobody in the camp except the itinerant explorers.


THE ROARING OF TIGERS,


which seemed to be quite close at hand, did not
tend in any way to relieve the gloom which pre-
vailed. Owing to the swollen condition of the river
but little headway was made next day. At night
fall halt was made at native ranch generally
occupied by india rubber hunters. AS on the pre-
viOus evening the rain fell heavily, eXtinguishing





OF ten feet. Raw bacon and hard TACK
were again brought into requisition. After strug
Cling through many rapids oil from TWO to six feet
fall, over which the launch had frequently to be
hauled, the explorers arrived on hard ground. and
a distance OF about twenty-f miles Leaving one
man in charge of the launch, Commander Sellrdge,
Mr. Couden and the men commenced their tedious
journey on the morning OF the 10th OF January.
Provisions now began TO grow rather stinted, and
as the ground was muddy, consequent upon the
Al noon they reached the mouth OF the Rock river,
named by the explorers from the nature OF It's
bed, which is one Of the tributaries Of the Cacarica
About seven O'Clock tnat evening the party
camped for the night. The ram came down with
relentless fury. Streams OF water flowed into
out OF the question, all hands were obliged to LOOK
sharply after their present safety On the next day
the march was resumed along the banks OF the Rock
at two O'Clock they reached the divide between the
Atlantic and the Pacific. by the barometer the
height OF the divide above the bed OF the river was
found to be 40 feet, and The height OF the river
was estimated TO be l30 feet above the level OF the
sea- making the entire height OF the divide 800 feet
AT this point the divide from ten to fifteen eet
wide ON the crest, with side nearly perpendicular
and surface Of clay for several feet below No actual
survey was made, as the party were simply recon-
noitring. The otner explorers then struck an
old Indian trail towards Paya and on the next day


january l they arrived opposite the village OF Paya
on the river OF that name. On seeing the strangers
the Indians rushed out and received them kindly,
and when through the AID OF an Interpreter, the oD
lcct OF the explorers was set FORTH the natives be-
naved most Hospitality, Offering one OF the best
houses In the village for their accommodations
luxury that was readily accepted. Commander
Sefrldge had then an


INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF OF THE TRIBE
and made HIM some presents, with which ne seemed
TO be delighted. The chief IL named Mlgueon and
is aver one hundred years Old finely formed, with
keen, piercing eyes and an inteiilgent look; and,
strange to say, has fine crop oil jet black halr Not
wthsTandinQ his advanced years MlKueon moved
about very actively and had Just returned from the
hunt in the woods. There were Two other Chiefs Lele
and his broner, both being much younger than
Myuelon and one OF them tue physician OF the
village. The youngest OF the chiefs was, In fact,
not more tnan forty years Old, and seemed TO sway
considerable amount OF 1nnuence among his
brethren He alone was retlcent but the Others
exnlb.ted much curiosity and seemed most anxious
To shake nanas with tue explorers In all there
were between iour and i've hundred Indians in the
village They were dressed In yaregated shlrts and
pantaloons but wore no mats, while their hair
ie over their shoulders or was punched to-
rether with a comb. Altogether they were a
f,ue set OF fellows, but there was an air or
lazlness about them that deteriorateG much from
their manly appearance. Personal cleanliness, now
ever, seemed one Of their redeemIng cnaraCteris-
tlcs as they Dathe as sten as TWO or three times
day. They are very lndolenl and rather eheminate