Chap. XV. THE COLLAHUAYAS. 247 



I was so Ibrtunalo as to secure the services of Mariano 

 Martinez, an experienced cascarillero, who liad acted as guide 

 to Dr. Weddell, on the occasion of his visit to the valley of 

 Tambopata in 1846. He was thoroughly acquainted with all 

 the different species of chinchona-trees, and, reared fi-om a 

 child in these forest solitudes, he was a most excellent and 

 expert woodman, intelligent, sober, active, and obliging. 



On May 1st wc prepared to enter the dense entangled 

 forest, where no European had been before, and no human 

 being for upwards of thirteen years, except the Collahuayas 

 and incense-collectors- Our party consisted of seven : the 

 three Indians, Weir, Pablo, Martinez, and myself. The 

 Indians, each with their chuspas of coca, and a chumpi or 

 belt round their waists, carried the ceepis or bundles of 

 provisions ; Pablo bore the tent ; and we were all armed 

 with tnachetes, or wood-knives, to clear the way. My people 

 were all dressed in coarse cotton cloth, and I wore a leathern 

 hat, red woollen shirt, fustian trousers, and the indispens- 

 able polccos, or shoes made of bay eta or felt, always used 

 in these forests. We were all mustered and ready to start 

 on the verge of Gironda's clearing, which is surrounded by 

 tall forest trees, with the river rusliing noisily past, and the 

 opposite mountains covered to their summits with fine timber, 

 when haK a dozen pale-faced men emerged from the tangled 

 thicket in our front. They looked wan and cadaverous like 

 men risen from the dead, and worn out by long watching and 

 fatigue. They turned out to be Collahuayas, collectors of drugs 

 and incense, who penetrate far into the forests to obtain their 

 wares, and come forth, as Ave then saw them, looking pale and 

 haggard. 



These Collahuayas, called also Chirihuanos on the coast of 

 Peru, Yungeiios, and Charasanis, are a very peculiar race. 

 They come from three villages in the forest-covered ravines 

 of the Bolivian province of Larecaja, called Charasaui, Con- 



