HUMAN TREE-DWELLERS 129 



a variety of lizards chasing one another under and 

 over him. The mourners, all bepainted in fantas- 

 tic and grotesque designs, constantly moved around 

 the dead and the lizards, as though performing a 

 dance, and yet their movements were without 

 enough uniformity to suggest dancing. Certainly, 

 it was a very crude and weird ceremony, weird to a 

 degree in the gloom and the rain of the jungle, 

 especially the moaning and wailing. I never 

 heard such direful sounds from human throat ; and 

 I have heard some startling exhibitions by Amer- 

 ican Indians. 



The body did not long remain in state. When it 

 was lashed to a tree limb, together with blow-gun 

 and fishing tackle, the wailing ceased; and I went 

 on my way. 



