In Search of an Unknown Race — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 VAN, But now began by far the most difficult part of the voyage. The river had narrowed from nearly a mile in width to less than half that distance, and the current increased in strength, while at short intervals it was broken by dangerous rapids and waterfalls. Luckily for Van his canoe did not weigh much more than twenty-five pounds, so that when he reached places where navigation was an impossibility, he ran the little craft ashore. Then, shouldering it, he made his way as best he could around the fall or rapid to the smoother water above. But the difficulties thus encountered seemed insur- mountable at times, and only that turning back meant almost certain death in one form or another, Van would more than once have given up in despair. His clothing was nearly reduced to rags—his stout walking shoes were full of holes, and though the mos- quito districts were left behind the bites of tiny red ants and other tormenting insects almost drove him frantic. He had to force his way through nearly impenetrable ravines into which the light of day apparently had _ never shone, and over marshes where the atmosphere reeked with foul miasmas from the rotting vegetation and slimy pools on every hand. Van knew that his late companions must be worse off than himself. Their boat was far too heavy for a portage or ‘‘carry,” and they must have abandoned her, to pursue their journey entirely by land on one side of the river or the other, encumbered by the weight of their guns and such necessaries as they felt obliged to take. But he listened in vain for the distant report of fire- Eomicdooksico