226 



EXPLORING FOR CASTILLOA RUBBER 



many I have forgotten. But I have not forgotten the sharp twinge, like 

 a red hot needle, that tells of the presence of the grub in one's flesh, 

 or the killing of it with nicotine, the heating of the spot by a firebrand^ 

 and then the desperate squeeze that shoots the inch-long" intruder out 

 into the open. 



I also learned here why it was that so many of the natives have 

 sore feet, about half of our men being then laid off. A disease which 

 they call the "massamora," something like chilblains, attacks them, the 

 cause being a minute insect that is found in stagnant water or decaying 

 vegetation. Unless cared for, the feet swell dreadfully and the 'skin 

 cracks and festers, making most troublesome sores. 



CRUZ, THE HUNTER, WITH WILD TURKEY. 



One of the worst rains came on while we were at llanos, but all 

 were under cover that is, all except the Prospector and the Scout, who 

 came in drenched and cross because the rest were dry and feasting on 

 mangos and bananas. While it rained Donna Maria was approached 

 with the proposal that she get the Indian woman who lived near to do 

 some washing. She got the woman to come over, but as it was a "fiesta" 

 (St. Peter's Day), she had religious scruples against working. Nor 

 could she work the next day, she explained, as that was the fiesta of 

 St. Paul. All of which was solemnly repeated by Elias Ojo. I have 

 not mentioned him before, but he deserves it. He was a boy about 

 fourteen, hunchbacked, withered, with enormous black eyes, and treated 



