The Secret Tributary
Locations
Type
River
Climate
Tropical, golden twilight
Secrets
Avoided by Indians who believe it is haunted by the 'Curupuri'.
Mood Tags
- •hidden
- •mysterious
- •fairyland
- •pellucid
Size Scale
Narrow stream, twenty yards across
Description
A hidden, pellucid waterway that serves as the 'private gate' to the unknown land.
Inhabitants
Black-velvet monkeys, caymans, tapirs, pumas.
Accessibility
Known only to Challenger and his guides; requires poling through rushes.
Plot Relevance
The essential path that bypasses the hostile Indian territories and leads to the plateau.
First Appearance
Professor Challenger's study (narrative account)
Geography Layout
A branch of a larger Amazonian affluent, concealed by a screen of reeds and cotton woods.
Notable Features
- •Hidden entrance marked by light-green rushes
- •Natural pergola of interlacing vegetation
- •Crystal clear, green water
- •Sandy bottom
Timeline
Entering the Gate
The expedition finds the Assai palm landmark and enters the secret stream.
