Detail from the map by Alexander von Humboldt showing the Casiquiare canal joining the Orinoco
River and the Rio NegroRice believed in self-promotion and an interesting feature of his work in South
America were the frequent reports to the press that he was about to be attacked by
a giant anaconda or eaten by cannibals, which always seemed to be waiting around
the next bend in the river. This led to this famous headline in one of the newspapers
stating that ‘Explorer Rice Denies He Was Eaten by Cannibals’.
Wallace continued up the headwaters of the Rio Negro in a small dugout canoe
until reaching Pimichin, where he crossed the portage to the Rio Atabapo and the
headwaters of the Orinoco. Walking alone in the evening he had a long-wished-for
encounter with one of the lords of the jungle:
As I was walking quietly along, I saw a large jet-black animal about twenty yards before
me, which took me so much by surprise that I did not at first imagine what it was. As it
moved slowly on, and its whole body and long curving tail came into full view in the middle
of the road, I saw that it was a fine black jaguar ... In the middle of the road he turned his
head, and for an instant paused and gazed at me, but having, I suppose, other business to
attend to, walked steadily on, and disappeared into the thicket. As he advanced, I heard the114 Where Australia Collides with Asia
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