290 CANOE-VOYAGE DOWN THE PJO NAPO. 



the night ; our Indians always preferring encamping npon 

 them, to landing on the wooded hank, as they were more 

 free fi-om insectile pests, Bnt do not think these islands 

 were " Ely sian Fields." Far from it. The sancudos (mos- 

 quitoes) were even there in strong force. Our Caracas 

 party have complained of meeting a few in Venezuela. 

 There may be a few np there on the Orinoco, but there is 

 not the least doubt in the world but that they have their 

 headquarters npon the Napo. It was impossible to with- 

 stand their attacks, and, upon the approach of evening, 

 we were driven beneath our nettings, where we would lie 

 nervously watching the swarming insects, which we could 

 see against the light of the sky, gathered in large groups, 

 or walking about upon the outside of our mosquiteros. 

 Nor were we always favored by having them without. 

 Somehow they vrould gain admittance ; either by entering 

 with us, or by searching out some hole ever undiscover- 

 able to us. 



Wliile we ahvays spent the night upon our craft, our 

 Indians would sleep npon the playa. Let us stroll over to 

 their camp, discovered by that little fire built of drift- 

 wood, which they have collected from the island. Their 

 spears are stuck in the sand a few yards from the fire, .be- 

 fore which is squatted the pensive old governor, holding 

 upon his knees a little Indian baby, while a young squav/ 

 is stirring, with a rough stick, the contents of an earthen 

 pot placed over the fire. This is their supper ; being a 

 conglomeration of meat, turtles' eggs, bananas, yucas, 

 and annotto. The other members of the party are seated 

 about the fire, or a little distant, listening, with some de- 

 gree of excitement, to the least splash in the water, or 

 noise in the forest, which might indicate the presence of 

 game. After disposing of supper, they will stretch them- 

 selves upon the sand, beneath a rude shelter of palm- 

 loaves. Such is tlic life of these wandering Indians. "We 



