|
|
Cornugaya Directory 08
Once started in the launch _Rimac_, we went through interesting channels,
outlets of the main stream being often noticeable on either bank, cutting
wide passages through the forest and forming one or more shallow
lakelets, with innumerable aquatic plants on the surface of the water.
As we went farther it became easy to understand how islands were
constantly forming in the river. Quantities of large and small logs of
wood were continually floating down the stream; the banks were gradually
being eaten away by the current. Whole trees fell down with their immense
branches and polypi-like roots, and formed a barrier arresting the
progress of the floating wood. Particles of earth deposited by wind and
by water saturated with impurities settled there. Soon grass would begin
to grow on those deposits, which quickly collected more deposits of
flying and floating particles. The soft bottom of the river, disturbed by
the deviated current, piled up mud against the submerged branches resting
on the river-bed. Quickly an island was then formed; more wood
accumulated, more grass, more mud; the base of the islands would increase
rapidly, and in the space of a few years islands several kilometres in
length rose above the water.
I spent a pleasant Christmas in Iquitos, all the English residents there
showing me the greatest kindness. From Iquitos the river was no longer
navigable for ocean-going steamers, and it was necessary to travel by
small launches. There was no regular service, but there were a number of
trading launches which went a certain distance up the river in order to
trade with the different houses on the banks of the stream. The
travelling was not particularly rapid, as one stopped ten or twenty times
a day, and wasted endless time while the people came on board to buy beer
or rum, or cotton goods, looking-glasses, etc., etc. Rubber and
aigrettes, as well as money, were given in exchange for the goods
received.
|
