THE ARECUNA INDIANS. 663 



cms proximity. Around are detached masses, apparently torn 

 from those gigantic walls of nature ; and every moment it seems 

 as if one of them would block up the path, or cut off all re* 

 treat. In places the channel of the stream is so narrow that the 

 canoe can hardly pass, in others it widens out into a shallow 

 claret-coloured lake. At length a capacious basin is entered, 

 black as ink, surrounded by a bold and extensive shore as white 

 as chalk. The roar of the water is heard, but no current per- 

 ceived ; though there is a foam-like yeast on the surface, 

 which remains all day without visible alteration. At length, 

 in the distance, a broken white line is seen struggling through 

 a cluster of granite rocks at the base of two quartz cliffs of a 

 mixed character. This is the fall of Macrebah. 



THE ARECUNA INDIANS. 



In these mountain regions dwell the Arecunas, a fine sturdy 

 race with clear copper-tinted skins unencumbered by 

 clothing, though wearing feathers and other ornaments ; long 

 sticks through the cartilage of their nostrils, and still longer, 

 richly adorned with tufts of black feathers, through their 

 ears. Both sexes are much tattooed ; some of the women hav- 

 ing dark blue lines across the upper lip, and extending in 

 wavy curves over each cheek, looking like enormous curled 

 moustaches. Others have a broad line round the mouth, 

 which gives it the appearance of being far larger than it is in 

 reality. The men wear the heads of humming-birds and of 

 a bird of a beautiful blue colour in their ears ; and round 

 their waist, girdles of monkey's hair. 



Schombergh, who visited them, says they made a great 

 feast in his honour, when there was a grand display of 

 gorgeous plumes, and head-dresses, the whole winged tribe 



