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Cornugaya Directory 10
Page 03
We came across three distinct hill ranges of that type, over which we had
to travel, the highest point being some 300 ft. above the level of the
Tapajoz River. The last bit in particular of that hilly region was
diabolically steep, with loose rocks which gave us no end of trouble. A
beautiful little streamlet flowing east descended in cascades among those
huge rocks. Eventually we reached the summit of the plateau, a huge flat
expanse of dark red volcanic rock. My men were so tired that we had to
camp on that elevation. Nothing but a few shrubs grew in the interstices
of that great table of rock, which extended for several kilometres to the
north. The barrier of rock, a spur of the great central plateau, was very
interesting from a geological point of view.
We went that afternoon some 6 kil. through fairly clean forest, barring a
few obstacles such as huge, ancient, fallen trees, the insides of which
were all rotted away or eaten up by ants. In one of the cavities of those
trees I found another quantity of food which had been hidden by my men.
Hampered by the Indians, who were giving me no end of trouble as they
refused to carry their loads, it took me some little time to catch up
with my other men. When I did I found them all seated, smacking their
lips. They were filling their mouths as fast as they could with handfuls
of sugar. When I reprimanded them there was an unpleasant row. They said
they were not beasts of burden, that men were not made to carry, and that
therefore they had thrown away all the food. Under no circumstance would
they carry loads any farther.
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