Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

150
NOTES OF A BOTANIST
to which bridges could be thrown, and a third
short bridge to the right bank of the river (where
is a narrow channel, sometimes dry), between the
large rock and the actual margin, rendered the
crossing of the river complete. Ordinary floods
did not reach these bridges, but after long and
heavy rains they were carried away, the rocks
supporting them being laid deep under water.
Yet they sometimes lasted so many months that
the bamboos began to decay, and have given way
under people who incautiously attempted to pass
them. In one of these high floods, some eight
years ago, the intermediate rock was toppled over,
and as it now lies it is so much lower than the
others that it no longer serves to support the
bridges. From this cause, the Topo has now to
be passed by four bridges, thrown from the sides to
three rocks in the water, about 20 yards higher
up
than the ancient site. These rocks are all
smallish and uneven-topped, and the middle one is
so low that a very slight flood suffices to render it
inaccessible. When we reached the margin, this
rock was barely visible at long intervals, and then
came surging waves which laid it i to 2 feet under
water, and would have swept away instantly the
poles attempted
to be laid on it. The Indians
declared that until this stone should be left uncovered
there was no hope of getting across ; we
therefore cast about to make the preparations neces-
sary for passing the night in this place. So many
travellers have been detained here by the swollen
Topo, that the narrow isthmus between the Topo
and the Shuna has been ransacked of everything
available for food or shelter. Not a palmito is now