132 UP THE OKINOCO. 



montlis after wc had left the regions infested by these in- 

 sects. 



On our second day at this pneblo, the Indians we had 

 met down the river, accompanied by many others of their 

 tribe, arrived, bringing with them the promised turtles. 

 Their chief, who was among the number, and who was 

 distinguished by no outer adornment, observing us for a 

 while very intently, as we were engaged in removing, for 

 preservation, the beautiful plumage of a guacamaya, inno- 

 cently asked for the long red tail, which seemed particu- 

 larly to have taken his fancy. Without doubt it would 

 have afforded him no little gratification to have possessed 

 it for his pow-wow embellishments ; but, as its removal 

 was incompatible with the object for which we desired the 

 specimen, we felt compelled to refuse the request, as harsh 

 as it might seem to the old chief, who turned away like 

 a disappointed child denied some cherished plaything. 

 There is something impressive in the infantine expression 

 and primitive simj)licity of the wild Indians of the Ori- 

 noco and Amazons. Their lives are passed with no higher 

 aim than simply maintaining an existence. They seem to 

 entertain no system of belief that can be called religion, 

 and appear to have no knowledge of a Supreme Being. 

 Most of the tribes are tractable, peaceful, and quietly 

 disposed ; and, where civilization, so called, has made no 

 encroachments among them, instances of gross vice and 

 immorality are unfrequent. 



After three days' delay at Santa Barbara, we resumed 

 our voyage. Some tAvo hixndred j^ounds of jerked beef, 

 which we had the good fortune to secure, had been added 

 to our supplies, and lay piled in a heap in the bow of the 

 boat, covered with banana-leaves to keep off the sun, and 

 the feet of the natives, who were continually treading 

 over it. Our crew had also been strengthened by two 

 additional men for ascending the cataracts. To our left 



