ii 4 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 



calico, to the other a Rondin to seek us each a 

 tapir. They brought us two fine animals with quite 

 as much flesh on them as a Tarapoto cow, and we 

 had charqui (dried meat) made of them for the 

 voyage. The weapon used in chasing tapir is a 

 lance with large well-tempered iron head, brought 

 from Quito or Riobamba. The dogs used in 

 tracking the animal are a small breed with little 

 triangular heads and curled bushy tails colour 

 usually iron-grey or fawn colour. One of our 

 hunters went alone with his dogs ; the other took 

 two companions. . . . Like most Indians who have 

 been brought to " Christianity," they have no manu- 

 factures of any kind. Their canoes, hammocks, 

 blowing-canes, matiris, etc., are all bought from the 

 " Infieles"! 



The present Governor of Andoas is Don Benito 

 Sumaita, a native of Moyobamba, who treated us as 

 kindly as his means would allow, and aided us much 

 in procuring men and food for the voyage. He is 

 subject to the recently-created and probably not 

 very permanent Prefectura del Alto Marafion. 

 The head-quarters of the Prefect are at Jeberos or 

 Xeberos, on the Aipena river which enters the 

 Huallaga near its mouth, which, though much 

 larger than Andoas, is quite as miserable a place. 

 Don Benito has been two years in this banishment 

 alone amongst the Indians save his son, a little boy 

 of ten years ; and he told us he slept more securely 

 the few nights we were there than he had ever done 

 before in Andoas, for he knew not on what night 

 the Infieles might break into the village and murder 

 him in his bed. He was almost in despair, poor 

 fellow, for he has no salary from the Government, 



