Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

FROM MANAOS TO TARAPOTO 2 1
that constantly rose from it. The cliff itself was
draped with a curtain of twiners which I had not
time to penetrate. The water was quite clear and
destitute of taste or smell, but so hot at 20
feet from the source that I could not bear my
in it.
finger
About noon we entered a long narrow channel
between loftier rocks and steeper hills above them,
where the currents and whirlpools gave us some
trouble. At its upper entrance stands a steep
cerro where the rock is only partially clad with
vegetation, and is stained in bare places with
blotches of red or dull purple. It is called Uamar-
uassi or Eagle's house, from having been once the
habitation of an immense eagle which guarded the
pass, and the purple patches
blood being of those who
are blood-stains the
were so rash as to
attempt the pass in its guardian's despite. The
scenery throughout this pongo is beautiful, though
the enclosing mountains do not exceed 500 to Soo
feet in height. The strata are sometimes almost
vertical, and are then partially naked, the seamy
vegetation being upheld (as
I have noticed in other
places) by masses of Bromeliaceous plants.
The next mal paso is called "Arpa," because
just above it there is a rock supposed
to resemble a
harp. The current round the rocky point was .so
strong that the canoes had to be dragged aloni; by
stout creepers. Afterwards we came to LM" (i
y
friable rock in very thin layers, and this was
succeeded by a slaty-looking dark rock, and then
the friable grey rock again appeared.
are all Triassic, and produce salt.
rapids of less importance were passed
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