A NAKKOW ESCAPE. 181 



seen. One wc measured was, from tip to tip, over three 

 feet, with a sj^read of Avings of three feet and eight inches. 

 The pkiraage of this bird glows in vivid colors of blue, 

 purple, gi-een, red, and yellow, and with its long sweeping 

 tail it presents a gaudy apjicarance. They generally go 

 in pairs ; of the thousands we saw, only once or twice did 

 Ave observe three in company. Their tenacity of life is 

 marvellous. We once wounded one with a charge of 

 shot, put a rifle-ball into its body, and tAVO more through 

 its immense head, without, apparently, much weakening 

 effect ; for it then mounted a log, and showed fight. Our 

 Indians finally dispatched it with their knives ; but not 

 until it had nearly succeeded in taking revenge ujDon its 

 assailants by firing with its claws one of our loaded guns, 

 the ball narrowly escaping one of the party. 



One CA'ent of the day did not afford many pleasurable 

 emotions. Rowing up for a rest beneath the shade of the 

 forest-bank, a naked Indian Avas spied gazing out upon us. 

 It was the brother of our guide, from whom he had been 

 long separated, and who chanced upon this spot as we 

 halted. With that cold indifference characteristic of their 

 race, they met as if they had but a few hours before parted. 

 When Ave were prepared to go, our Indian Avas motioned 

 to the boat. In AA^ords more pathetic than his actions had 

 exhibited, he replied, " Would you separate a brother 

 from a brother?" As the stranger Indian would not ac- 

 company us, and argiiment Avith the other Avas of no aA'ail, 

 we reluctantly left Avith one man less as a result of this 

 unexpected episode, which Avas not a pleasant one, Avhen 

 we reflected that we were now Avithout a guide or inter- 

 preter to navigate an unknown river, encountering Indian 

 tribes and people whose languages were equally strange 

 to us. 



On the morning of the 23d Ave reached San Isabel, 

 another almost deserted A'illacre Avith but three or four 



