JUAN VI N AS— THE REVENTAZON VALLEY 211 



its near relative the castor oil bean but is feebler in growth 

 and more reddish in color. Tapioca is made from its roots 

 and the root itself is used as a vegetable, boiled like potatoes, 

 and has already been mentioned as forming part of the bill 

 of fare at Tierra Blanca. 



Under the palms on one side was a hut in a little clearing 

 trampled hard and bare and enclosed in a bamboo fence. The 

 walls of the hut were cane stems set side by side as closely as 

 possible and bound together with plant fibers. The roof, 

 which ran up to a high peak, was thatched with leaves. 

 There was no window or opening for smoke, which crept 

 out through cracks in the thatch at one end. It was a pic- 

 turesque bit, and we usually stopped to enjoy it. One day 

 late in July as we passed, we met an exceedingly handsome 

 Indian woman bearing a huge load of green tobacco leaves 

 on her shoulders and back. Later we met her again return- 

 ing to the river fields for more and had some conversation 

 with her. By this time the clouds were gathering and she 

 told us the rain was coming soon and would be very heavy. 

 As it turned out, however, the rains did not come until after 

 dark, so the native Indian does not invariably read the 

 clouds aright. 



An Indian family of father, mother, boy and two girls 

 met us in the river bottom on June 28. The first was very 

 friendly, took much interest in our collecting paraphernalia 

 and captures and explained them to the others. We met 

 them again as they were returning from the corn-fields 

 which covered much of the flat land here and indeed some 

 of the steep slopes also, each carrying a heavy sack of husked 

 corn. The father presented us with several ears and would 

 take no money, although he made no objection to our pre- 

 senting each of the children with a little silver piece. The 

 gifts made, the father added a few more ears, shook us each 

 by the hand and we parted with profound "Adios." We 



