In the evening the same antlike processions marched silently homewards.
They came to the Rio Merarwi and here, stars ill-boding, three of their canoes capsized, dumping out five months' provender and sending the party speedily homewards.
Alex Salmond in BBC News Football fans' groups from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have spoken out against Mr Brown's proposal - opposition which Mr Salmond said would "send him homewards to think again".