/O MEMOIR OF 



rent were the Maiongkongs and the Mauitzi, in- 

 habiting the Merewari and Paraba; their figures 

 broad and muscular, of good height, and haughty 

 mien. With one of these for a guide, our travellers 

 embarked on the Parima, which is the continuation 

 of the Rio Branco, and ascending this river, and 

 encountering its rapids, arrived in the course of a 

 fortnight at a settlement of Waiyamara Indians, 

 where a fresh stock ^f provisions was obtained. 

 The captain or chief received them sitting on a low 

 stool, surrounded by his men, all armed with war- 

 clubs : having heard what his visitors had to say, 

 he rolled up a few leaves of tobacco in the inner 

 bark of the caJcarcdli-iiee {Lecythis oUaria), in the 

 form of a cigar, lighted it, and after smoking it for 

 a little while, handed it to Mr. Schomburgk. This 

 custom, though very common among the North 

 American Indians, our traveller had never seen be- 

 fore among the Indians of Guiana. This party 

 consisted of forty-five individuals, besides those Avho 

 w^ere absent clearing a new space for provision 

 grounds ; they looked sickly and haggard, and were 

 a striking contrast to the more robust and healthy 

 Arekanas. 



The expedition afterwards passed a provision 

 plantation of the Kirishana, — a wild and warlike 

 race, inhabiting the mountains between the Orinoco 

 and Ocamo, and who go without clothing and live 

 almost entirely on game and fish. As the Oewakus 

 are despised, so the Kirishanas are dreaded by the 

 other Indians ; they make no scruple of plundering 



