232 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



a minimum also, on account of its weight; we retained only 

 a few hundred cartridges and about a dozen traps with 

 which to prosecute the natural-history work. This reduc- 

 tion of the impedimenta was unavoidable and affected every 

 member of the party, either directly or indirectly. It was 

 one of the several instances where individual interests had 

 to be sacrificed for the good of the whole expedition. 



At Juruena we made the acquaintance of a primitive 

 tribe of Indians who probably represent the lowest type 

 of savage to be found anywhere on the South American 

 continent. They are known as the Nhambiquaras. As 

 we drew up on the river-bank they gathered about and 

 stared in curiosity at the party, but betrayed no hostile feel- 

 ings. Colonel Rondon had but recently succeeded in es- 

 tablishing amicable relations with them. On his first visits 

 into Matto Grosso, numbers of his men had been slain 

 by the Nhambiquaras, and they had resented his every 

 step into their stronghold. In the days that followed, Colonel 

 Rondon related some of his experiences with these Indians. 

 As accompanied by a few companions, among whom Lieu- 

 tenant Lyra figured prominently, he made his way slowly 

 and painfully through the chapadao, parties of the savages 

 constantly followed his movements. On account of the 

 open character of the country they remained in conceal- 

 ment during the daytime; but when night spread a protect- 

 ing cloak of darkness over the land, the Indians became 

 bolder and harassed the camp. It was impossible to build 

 a fire, for that would have enabled the lurking fiends to 

 see their victims and make easy targets of them. After 

 trying many schemes for making friends with the savages, 

 Colonel Rondon took a phonograph into the wilds with 

 him, and played it at night. The Indians were unable to 

 understand the music, and finally their curiosity prompted 

 them to leave the sheltering blackness and come timidly 

 into the Brazilians' camp in search of the sound. 



Colonel Rondon has persistently treated the wild people 

 with kindness. During all their persecution of himself and 



