XXVII 



INDIAN ROCK-PICTURES 



481 



A few miles from the upper mouth of the Casi- 

 quiari a stream called Calipo enters it where there 

 is some picture-writing that was covered with water 

 when I passed up ; but when I returned (on Janu- 

 ary 6, 1854) the Casiquiari had lowered 2 feet, and 

 at the mouth of the Cano Calipo a good many 

 figures were laid bare, all of which I copied. The 

 figures on Fig. 19 have the same relative posi- 

 tions and distances as on the rock, and apparently 



Fir,. 19. GROUP OF PICTURES ON RIGHT BANK OF THE CASIQUIARI, 



A LITTLE ABOVE THE CANO DE CALITO. 



represent a family group, whereof my interpreter 

 assured me that H symbolised a chief, and that 

 the figures on the right were his three wives 

 and a child, the principal wife being distinguished 

 by the plume worn on her head. The curious 

 figures on the left may perhaps be meant for the 

 prehensile-tailed Iguanas, which being very good 

 food would be of especial interest. 



The other group (Fig. 20) repeats the symbol 

 of a chief (at H H), with some four-footed animal, 

 perhaps a dog, on the left. The rest are probably 

 household goods of some kind. 



Picture-writing is frequent throughout the granite 

 district of the Casiquiari, but I have nowhere seen 



VOL. II 2 I 



