FLIES AND ANTS 20JI 



articles that went to form his load on it, after which he 

 lashed the other frame securely to the one beneath. A 

 broad band of bark was tied to the package and this he 

 stretched across his forehead, allowing the pack to rest on 

 his shoulders and back. 



The method of carrying loads by a broad band across 

 the head is, as I observed during my first visit, common 

 to most of the American tribes ; even men and women 

 being carried across the mountains in chairs in this 

 manner. The carriers throw the body slightly forward 

 and proceed at a sort of trot, covering long distances with 

 a considerable weight. 



During the afternoon the men made another journey 

 and brought the rest of our effects up. The whole of the 

 island was so densely wooded that we had to make a 

 clearing by cutting away the shrubs and smaller trees 

 before we could pitch our camp. This was a simple 

 affair, consisting of a low hut for storing our provisions, 

 clothing, and other effects. For ourselves, as we expected 

 to remain only a few days at this spot, we did not build 

 any ranclio. We merely spread oil-cloths over our 

 hammocks, slung between two trees. When we arrived^ 

 and while the undergrowth was being cleared, we were 

 kept hotly engaged brushing off the ants with which the 

 place swarmed. A thick bed of rotten leaves lay on the 

 ground, and this harboured vast hordes of these disagree- 

 able insects, so that it was only after the place had been 

 well cleaned that we were able to enjoy any rest. Even 

 then not a day passed without our being stung several 

 times. This damp gloomy forest teems with insect life. 

 Besides ants, swarms of flies of different kinds used to 

 visit the camp daily. So assiduous were they in their 

 attentions that I often heard Jacobson, who is far from 



