258 UDA PRANG 



the natives, whom he characterized as goats. 

 Uda's nerve was to be tested sooner than he im- 

 agined, and with results not to his credit. 



We had branched into two or three different 

 rivers, always bearing to the south by west, and 

 finally got on one about fifteen feet in width, some- 

 what more crooked than the rule, but rather clearer 

 of the usual spearlike palm growth extending from 

 the banks. I had been on the outlook for tapir 

 since we left the last settlement, for, though no 

 native had spoken of them, I felt convinced they 

 must be in such country. All along, it had been 

 my habit to take position in the bow of the canoe 

 with rifle whenever we came to a section which, in 

 my eyes, appeared particularly gamy, or upon a 

 stretch of tortuous river. Some days we would 

 go along thus for hours, with me sitting in the 

 bow, rifle across my knees, while back of me the 

 men bent to their silent paddling and singing their 

 prayers. It struck me as curious, not to say 

 amusing, that whenever I took my place in the bow 

 with rifle, the men broke out in prayer singing. 

 Early in the experience I stopped them singing 

 aloud, but I could never still them entirely. And 

 so we moved swiftly and quietly along, the paddles 

 keeping silent rhythm to the persistent prayerful 

 humming. Day after day passed thus, with 

 scarcely a word spoken, for I impressed upon Uda 



