Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

158 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP.
it may well be supposed how each as he descended
the pole clung to it like grim death. We all got
safely down to the beach, where we could get along
more pleasantly.
When the two Spaniards left me at Puca-yacu I
sent by them a tin box asking them to return it full of
bread from the Sierra, when they should send back
their cargueros. I had hoped to meet the bread
about the Jibaria, but I afterwards learnt that my
companions had had a long disastrous journey
through the Montana, and that the swollen Topo
kept them waiting three days. However, when we
got down to the Arenal, we saw some Indians
advancing and recognised them for our friends of
Puca-yacu. They brought my bread, which thus
came very opportunely, and I immediately shared
out a loaf to each of my hungry companions,
reserving enough for other two rations.
The Indians of Puca-yacu, on learning the state
of the Topo, did not delay a minute, but started off
at the top of their speed. I afterwards learnt that
when they reached the Topo the bridges were
beginning to move, that they crossed with some
peril, and that immediately afterwards the longest
bridge was carried away. We continued along the
margin of the Pastasa till the sun began to get low,
indeed the rain did not clear away so as to allow us
to see his face until 2 o'clock, and at about 4 P.M.
came on a rancho thatched with leaves of Arrow-
reed, where we drew up to pass the night.
We were still a good way from the end of the
Arenal. Whilst my supper was preparing I had
leisure to examine it a little. The gorge of the
Pastasa, though still bounded on the north side by