CROSSING THE EASTERN ANDES 101 



is comparatively open, that is, free from dense undergrowth. 

 The trees are tall and there are a few tree-ferns and palms; 

 many climbing lilies and other epiphytes grow on the trunks 

 and branches. Moss is lacking; near the streams bamboo, 

 wild cane, high grass, and briars, united by creepers, form 

 dense jungles that are hard to penetrate. Streams and 

 rivers are numerous and we were at once impressed with 

 their size and depth. Crossings were effected in dugout 

 canoes. While the current is swift, the waterways are so 

 silent that one is not aware of their existence until reaching 

 their very borders. 



We saw little of the Huitoto Indians inhabiting this dis- 

 trict. They seem to remain in seclusion in their forest 

 homes and rarely venture into the path of the settlers. 

 Those we encountered were of low stature, yellow in color, 

 and had features so nearly resembling the Japanese that 

 they might be easily mistaken for that race. They are of a 

 shy and retiring disposition. Their ornaments were very 

 elaborate, consisting of anklets, amulets, and necklaces of 

 colored seeds and jaguar and monkey teeth, skilfully wrought 

 into pleasing combinations. 



The hut at La Morelia was of large dimensions, built 

 entirely of bamboo, with palm-leaf roof. An unusual fea- 

 ture was that it contained two stories, the lower used to 

 store grain and plantains, the upper serving as living quar- 

 ters. A clearing about one hundred acres in extent sur- 

 rounded it ; most of it was grass-covered, providing pastur- 

 age for a few head of cattle, the remainder was under culti- 

 vation. The several acres that had been given to growing 

 plantains produced so abundantly that hundreds of bunches 

 were going to waste. If left to mature on the plant the 

 fruit bursts and is destroyed by insects. The choicest clus- 

 ters were cut green and then placed in a down-stairs room 

 of the house to ripen. At night hundreds of small bats 

 visited the enclosure to feed on the mountain of rapidly 

 yellowing fruit. We desired some of the creatures for our 

 collections, but found it difficult to catch or shoot them in 



