After leaving the village they travelled for many days and nights through the Gapo.  Although afloat on the waters of the Amazon, they never entered the main river after the first few days, but wound their way, in a creeping, serpentine sort of fashion, through small streams and lakes and swamps, from which the light was partially excluded by the thick foliage of the forest.  It was a strange scene that illimitable watery waste, and aroused new sensations in the breasts of our travellers.  As Barney said, it made him “feel quite solemn-like and eerie to travel through the woods by wather.”

The canoe was forced under branches and among dense bushes, till they got into a part where the trees were loftier and a deep gloom prevailed.  Here the lowest branches were on a level with the surface of the water, and many of them were putting forth beautiful flowers.  On one occasion they came to a grove of small palms, which were so deep in the water that the leaves were only a few feet above the surface.  Indeed they were so low that one of them caught Martin’s straw-hat and swept it overboard.

“Hallo! stop!” cried Martin, interrupting the silence so suddenly that Grampus sprang up with a growl, under the impression that game was in view; and Marmoset scampered off behind a packing-box with an angry shriek.

“What’s wrong, lad?” inquired Barney.

“Back water, quick! my hat’s overboard, and there’s an alligator going to snap it up.  Look alive, man!”

In a few seconds the canoe was backed and the straw-hat rescued from its perilous position.

“It’s an ill wind that blows nae guid, as the Scotch say,” remarked Barney, rising in the canoe and reaching towards something among the overhanging branches.  “Here’s wan o’ them trees that old black-face calls a maraja, with some splendid bunches o’ fruit on it.  Hould yer hat, Martin; there’s more nor enough for supper anyhow,”

As he spoke a rustling in the leaves told that monkeys were watching us, and Marmoset kept peeping up as if she half expected they might be relations.  But the moment the travellers caught sight of them they bounded away screaming.

Having gathered as much fruit as they required, they continued their voyage, and presently emerged into the pleasant sunshine in a large grassy lake, which was filled with lilies and beautiful water-plants, little yellow bladder-worts, with several other plants of which they knew not the names; especially one with a thick swollen stalk, curious leaves, and bright blue flowers.  This lake was soon passed, and they again entered into the gloomy forest, and paddled among the lofty trunks of the trees, which rose like massive columns out of the deep water.  There was enough of animal life there, however, to amuse and interest them.  The constant plash of falling fruit showed that birds were feeding overhead.  Sometimes a flock of parrots or bright blue chatterers swept from tree to tree, or atrogon swooped at a falling bunch of fruit and caught it ere it reached the water; while ungainly toucans plumped clumsily down upon the branches, and sat, in striking contrast, beside the lovely pompadours, with their claret-coloured plumage and delicate white wings.