Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

130 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP.
collection of the beautiful Coleoptera (beetles)
which were to be found there in great abundance."
No doubt these were obtained in some of the
newly-cleared plantations of the natives on the
road to the Napo river, which he explored for
some distance.]
June 10 ( Wednesday].- -This day at 8 A.M. I got
off from Puca-yacu, where I had been waiting three
weeks. My companions had started on the last
day of May, and after their departure the Governor
went to Sara-yacu and with much trouble found
cargueros for me, as they had been frightened at
the large size of my trunks when I passed up. I
again lightened them as much as I could by selling
and giving to Don Gabriel and his family everything
not absolutely necessary, and for one trunk
in which I had deposited my drugs, barometer, and
some other valuables I paid two cargueros. The
pay to each was 3 D. 2 Rs., with three varas of
bretana (English calico), and to one who carried
a long but not heavy trunk I paid 4 D. and a
red handkerchief. They arrived at Puca-yacu on
Monday, but Tuesday being very rainy we could
not get off; the canoes, however, were put in readi-
ness for the following morning. There were four
of them, one lent me by the Governor and the rest
furnished by the Indians themselves, and intended
to be left in Canelos till their return. We started,
sixteen in number, for each of the seven cargueros
took with him a boy or young woman to carry his
food. The canoes are small, light, flat-bottomed,
not capable of carrying more than two of my
trunks. .
. .
[ June 1 2. Reaching Canelos in the morning,