176 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



at great speed, making long jumps from branch to branch; 

 at frequent intervals during the morning and evening they 

 raised their voices in shrill little cries of distress, resembling 

 a series of quickly repeated ohs. 



The river was teeming with fish. At night, after their 

 work had been completed, the Indians, who camped on the 

 water's edge, threw in their lines and never failed to catch 

 a goodly supply. While in our presence the men always 

 wore blue cotton trousers and the women loose dresses of 

 the same color, but when alone they threw aside all 

 clothing. 



Occasionally a light canoe containing women and chil- 

 dren passed our camping-site, but they always remained as 

 near as possible to the opposite bank and paid no attention 

 to us whatever if we chanced to call to them; in fact, they 

 could not even be induced to look in our direction. 



The nights were always sultry and it rained frequently. 

 If the weather permitted, a huge fire was built; into this a 

 steady stream of fireflies or click-beetles winged their way 

 to destruction. Late one night we heard a queer pattering 

 on the top of the tent-fly; back and forth scurried the little 

 feet, and up and down the sloping roof. Our acetylene- 

 lamps revealed a family of opossums which had discovered 

 an ideal playground. Often, too, we heard cautious foot- 

 steps near by, and the suddenly flashed light disclosed the 

 glowing eyes of a deer, tapir, or jaguar, which gazed stupidly 

 a moment into the dazzling brilliance and then darted away. 



On account of the dampness mould formed so rapidly 

 that cameras and all leather goods had to be cleaned daily, 

 and there was great difficulty in drying specimens. 



We had frequent views of Duida. Each morning at 

 about ten the mist drifted from the summit and revealed 

 the jagged, rocky peaks; our calculations placed the alti- 

 tude of the mountain at approximately five thousand five 

 hundred feet. Toward the Orinoco the mass presents a 

 bold front, the sheer walls of granite rising to a height of 

 several thousand feet. The western slope is gradual and 



