ODDITIES. 291 



pity them. Still tliey are content, for tliey know of noth- 

 ings hio-her, iiothing- better. 



We were often amused by the oddities of our Indians. 

 Like all natives of the tropics, they manifested a decided 

 aversion to clothing. Having resolved one day to mod- 

 ernize our crew, we gave to them some cast-ofl" garments. 

 Their attempts to put themselves inside, comically be- 

 trayed their lack of acquaintance with such articles. It 

 was decidedly entertaining to see them climbing into the 

 pants wrong end up, and getting the other things on up- 

 side down ; but, with the fit about the neck not being good, 

 tryinff a<zain, bringino; them on inside out, or wrono; side 

 before. To the governor, who was freely perspiring with 

 his exertions in the sweltering heat, we gave an overcoat, 

 and so lugubriously did he survey hmiself, that for once 

 our other Indians shouted v.ith merriment. They kept 

 themselves inside but a short time, and then tore the 

 things to pieces to subserve other more important pur- 

 poses. 



December 1st. — To-day we saw the first representatives 

 of the genus homo since being upon the " Zaparo." They 

 comprised a party of eight or ten Indians — namesakes of 

 our craft. More unhuman they seemed than the monkeys 

 of the forest. Almost their only clothing were strips of 

 bark ; their bodies were blackened and blotched with the 

 attacks of insects, and their whole aspect indicated a life 

 of the lowest degradation. We afterward saw two otlier 

 canoe-loads ; but, as soon as they caught sight of our craft, 

 they pulled into a side-channel of the river and disap- 

 peared. Upon the 4th we overtook a Spanish trader on 

 his way to the Maraiion, with a quantity of sarsaparilla 

 and hammocks. "Wishing to secure some of the latter, we 

 drew alongside of his canoe, and opened negotiations. 

 To our first question, put in Spanish, respecting the value 

 of his hammocks, he replied in Englisli, which was sucli a 



