POET AGE OF PKINICHIN. 165 



babies. The people employ themselves in collecting the 

 fibrous bark of the Paissaba palm that grows abundantly 

 in the forest, which substance is extensively used for 

 manufacturing ropes and cables. Every thing which 

 crosses the isthmus of Javita is carried by them, and the 

 loads they are able to transport is truly astonishing. The 

 distance across is three leagues, and the round trip is made 

 in one day, the carriers often taking a burden each day. 



In every Indian hamlet and village of these interior 

 districts there is a casa real, a house for the use of travel- 

 lers, itinerant officials, and padres. This beneficent ar- 

 rangement of these hospitable people furnishes shelter to 

 the stranger, which would often be difficult to secure in 

 their overcrowded huts. In such a place we were quartered 

 at Javita. Wishing to delay here but a short time, we 

 made arrangements to cross the portage to Pimichin on 

 the day following our arrival at the village. Our boat 

 was too heavy to take overland, as the Indians are accus- 

 tomed to do with their ^canoes ; nor was it necessary for 

 us, as another could be secured upon the other side of the 

 isthmus. Early in the morning the carriers were at our 

 quarters, accompanied by a crowd of women and children, 

 who, from curiosity, gathered about the door. Every man 

 was paid before he started, each selecting such articles as 

 struck his fancy, from our stock of cloth, arrow-heads, 

 beads, and needles. The display of our wares attracting 

 those who stood about the entrance, the bolder ones 

 pushed themselves within, and the more timid slowly fol- 

 lowed, until the room was literally packed, when, with 

 two or three upon each bundle, all diffidence seemed to 

 have been overcome. The lighter packages were arranged 

 so as to be carried upon the head, while the heavier ones 

 were slung upon poles and borne upon the shoulders of 

 two persons. tn 



When the last of the Indian train was in motion, we 



