11.
to say yes if I tell you there's a pub
opposite the Education Centre!
Andrew McLeish
Illustrations by
Don Chapman and
Andrew Mcleish
SOUTH AMERICA by SUE NASH
I could hardly believe it! Here I was,
sailing down the Rio Branco in the Amazon
Basin, in the cool of an evening in early
September 1975. After two years of writing
for sponsorship, saving all spare cash,
raising yet more cash, and securing projects,
I was actually taking part in an expedition
to the Amazon Basin.
Myself and five other friends had
managed to secure a lift to Manaus, which is
near the meeting of the black Rio Negro and
the mighty Rio Solimoes, or Upper Amazon
River. Our vessel was part of a group of
three barges carrying about 200 head of
cattle from the newly established cattle
ranches in Northern Brazil to the slaughter
houses in Manaus, where the ever-expanding
populace demands more and more fresh protein.
Our four-day journey introduced us to the
tropical jungle, and we were accompanied on
several occasions by freshwater porpoises.
We were also fortunate to catch a glimpse of
the rare manatee one afternoon. Our expedi-
tion was to last three months, and comprised
three fellow ex-students from Portsmouth,
who were to be responsible for the studies on
birds, the maintenance of boats and various
equipment, and supplies.