2CG OYEE THE EASTERN COEDILLEEA, 



our dripping blankets — for we had been riding in a drencli- 

 ing rain — and, as vre squatted about the fire, built in the 

 centre of the room, provided each with a calabash of wel- 

 come cordial. 



The day of our arrival was a sad one for the little vil 

 lage of Papallacta ; for death had entered the tribe. Ac- 

 cording to custom, the funeral was at night. The entire 

 village having assembled within the rude church, they 

 marched slowly to the grave, where the women chanted a 

 ])laintivc song. The mingled group, their dusky faces, 

 seemingly sad, revealed by the Aveird light of the torches, 

 presented an interesting scene ; while the stillness, and the 

 gloomy shadows of the dark, amphitheatral hills, seemed 

 in fit keeping with the ceremonies. 



The village of Papallacta consists of about thirty huts, 

 with a population of scarcely one hundred. The day fol- 

 lowing our arrival the governor collected the inhabitants, 

 and with them squatted before our hut to negotiate for 

 the trip to the Napo. It was arranged that, in consid- 

 eration of one hundred pesos, we were to have a train of 

 twenty Indians, each of whom was to carry seventy-five 

 pounds ; we were to start ^:>«5af?a mancma, day after to- 

 morrow (nothing is done in this country until to-morrow 

 or next day), and, upon the ninth day from Papallacta, we 

 and our baggage were to be safely delivered into the hands 

 of the Indians of Archidona, a village only one day's jour- 

 ney from the Pio ISTapo. 



