afford indisputable proofs of the great quantity of water this river supplies, in inundating the plains of the Sacrament at the time of its increase. Among the multitude of fishes, amphibious creatures, and quadrupeds, which presented themselves to his view, the daring cayman, and the resolute and industrious tiger, equally claimed his attention. It is necessary to be constantly on the watch against the former of these animals, which darts on the canoes without dread or apprehension. The latter is the only one which dares to attack these ferocious amphibia, and which, imitating man in the fishing of turtles, makes his provision for several days.[1] Engaged on the one hand in the contemplation of the varied and admirable spectacle of nature; and molested on the other by the inserts, the heat of the climate, and the humidity and exposure of the spots at which he passed his nights, father Girbal continued to advance until the 25th of September, without encountering, in any part of the Ucayali, within the current, the smallest rock or shoal to impede the navigation.
On the 26th, at break of day, the reverend father continued his peregrination, not a little surprized at the proximity of the savage tribes, whose traces were multiplied every moment. He fluctuated between fear and confidence, without being able to divine the result of the first encounter. With this he was soon made acquainted, since, at eight in the morning, he perceived a-head, a flotilla of nineteen canoes, which, by the aid of the oars and currents, descended with great velocity. The clamour made by the Indians, on descrying the two canoes which ascended, was distinctly to be heard. In similar encounters, the sound of the born announces peace among, these barbarians, by whom, if they are amicably disposed, it is returned. Father Girbal ordered his crews to sound theirs, which were instantly answered by the bobotas[2] of the strangers. A mutual confidence having been thus established, the canoes approached each other, and, the endearing title of friend having been interchanged, were brought to the nearest bank,
- ↑ The tigers lie in ambush for the caymans on the strands of the Ucayali, and whenever they are enabled to spring on them, bury their claws in the eyes, the hardness of the teguments not allowing them to accomplish this in any other part. The cayman, as soon as he feels that he is wounded, extricates himself from the tiger, and plunges into the water, where this valiant quadruped perishes, sooner than allow himself to be taken.—The Indians follow the example of other nations, in fishing for turtles, by laying them on the back, to prevent their escape: in this position they live for a space of from twenty to thirty days. Those who are engaged in this fishery, subsist on one of these animals for a considerable time, rutting it up peacemcal, in proportion to their wants.
- ↑ The bobotas are made of the thick canes which grow on the mountains, and have some resemblance to the flute. They give out a dull, but terrific sound.
