mi 



CHAPTi!R XIV 



La Prision, January 28-February 22, 1901 — Peccaries — Method of camping 

 — Water tortoises — Eggs of the water tortoise — Para — Orchids — Indian 

 method of carrying loads — flies and ants — Above the Falls of Para — 

 Tapir hunting. 



We reached La Prision, as I have said, on January 28. 

 As I realised that it would be at least two or three weeks 

 before I would be able to attempt a second Journey, 

 I dismissed the Venezuelans. I decided also to take 

 advantage of Longacre's return to Ciudad-Bolivar to send 

 two of my Trinidad men with him, one of whom, the 

 East Indian, was suffering from abscesses, the other from 

 chronic laziness. Maite remained with me and kept our 

 larder supplied with water tortoises and fish by spending 

 his days on the river in Medina's small curiara. Pedro 

 Hospedales and Asoque, who went hj the name of Chichi, 

 continued collecting birds. Freddy spent most of his 

 time with a butterfly-net in his hands, adding to our 

 entomological specimens. By February 10 I was strong 

 enough to walk. Longacre was eager to get to Ciudad- 

 Bolivar, and as nearly all our provisions had been exhausted 

 I determined to send some men with him to Puerto 

 Antonio Liccioni to purchase the necessaries for our 

 voyage beyond the falls of Para. For this purpose I 

 engaged ' the Pirate,' Pancho Montenegro, and Ramon 

 Ramirez. On the morning of the 12th the party left 







