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CANELOS TO BANGS 149
steep cliff, perhaps 150 feet high, of dangerous
ascent. In some parts of it on projecting ledges
poles are set up with notches cut in them wherein
to step, but they were very slippery, and in clam-
bering up them I trusted more to my
hands than
to my feet. Beyond this the ground is nearly
level to the Topo, \vhich we reached in an hour
more. Here our worst fears were realised. The
Topo,
as far as wr e could see up it, and downwards
to its junction with the Pastasa, was one mass of
foam, and the thunder of its waters against the
rocks made the very ground shake to some distance
from the bank. The Topo is perhaps the largest
tributary of the Pastasa on the north side ; its
course is much shorter than that of the Bombonasa,
but more water seems to come down it. Its
source is in the snowy mountain Llanganati the
fabulous El Dorado of the Ouitensians. . . . This
mountain and its offshoots occupy nearly all the
space between the head of the Napo
and the Rio
de Patate, both which rivers rise in Cotopaxi. .
. .
The Topo is never low enough to be fordable on
foot, and though numerous explorations of its
banks have been made for some leagues up, no
place has been found practicable for a bridge save
the accustomed one, which is about 200 yards
above its junction with the Pastasa. Here, on
each side of the river, which is perhaps TOO feet
wide, stands a large rock, nearly flat-topped, and
rising some 12 feet above high water; they arc
rather difficult of access, but can be clambered
up. ...
In the middle of the river, and in a line with
these two rocks, is a smaller one of equal height,