SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I929 73 



the largest of the group of six, and here we obtained a small amount 

 of the extinct animal bones, and a considerable amount of human re- 

 mains. Perrygo, in the meantime, was making a collection of birds 

 from this and nearby localities. Two days more were spent in com- 

 pleting the largest cave, which was somewhat disappointing from 

 the standpoint of material, considering its size. All of the extinct 

 material was found in the entrance and none in the cave proper, 

 which was about loo feet in depth by about 50 to 60 feet in width. 

 The following four days were spent completing this group, with but 

 fair results. On the loth both Perrygo and I spent the entire day 

 on bird work. The following day we shifted operations to a large 

 cave about 2^ miles to the northeast. Two days were required to com- 

 plete the work here. 



Each day while working in this section, we could hear the strum- 

 ming of native drums and, on many occasions, would see small pro- 

 cessions of both men and women marching over the hills and through 

 the valleys, usually with a leader carrying two flags, one red and one 

 white, a drummer, a native shaking an instrument that resembled a 

 large rattle, consisting of a long stick with a can attached, partially 

 filled with stones or other objects. Sometimes there would be a man 

 blowing a long bamboo flute that emitted a rather weird or mournful 

 tone, and occasionally conch shell horns were added to produce noise. 

 We had heard many rumors in connection with these daily parades 

 and were of the opinion that they were staged for no good purpose. 

 On the night before we broke camp, a " parade " was started about 

 dusk. We could hear the drums and other instruments, together with 

 the almost incessant yelling, or perhaps singing, of the natives. At 

 first it was far away, although we could tell from the increased vol- 

 ume of noises that they were constantly moving and apparently 

 gathering more members of their clan. Just about as we were ready 

 to retire, we noticed the sounds getting more and more distinct, com- 

 ing in our direction. We had only a short time to wait liefore they 

 were passing within a few feet of our tent, the music now being in 

 great volume, and, by the aid of a few torches they carried, we could 

 see that they were constantly dancing. At first we were somewhat 

 alarmed as the procession by now had reached enormous proportions. 

 However, we remained in or near our tent, and finally the parade 

 passed on, but not for long. An hour or so later it returned, stronger 

 than ever, and this kept up until long after daybreak. That morning 

 we packed our outfit on the burros and made ready for the long trip 

 back to Ansa a Galet. As we were leaving we were informed that 

 the all-night parade had been staged in our honor, which caused us 



