THE OTTOMACAS IXDIAXS. 71 



The Ottomacas, of whom it is said by other Indians, ' that 

 there is nothing so disgusting that they will not eat,' live the 

 greater part of the year on fishes and turtles ; but when the 

 Orinoco and its tributaries swell during the periodical rainst 

 and render fishing next to impossible, they become ' dirt-eaters ' 

 and assuage their hunger with an unctuous cky. Such is their 

 |, predilection for this strange aliment, in which chemistry 

 detects no trace of organic matter, that even in times of 

 abundance they mix some of it with their more nutritious food.. 

 The most remarkable fact is that during the two months of the 

 year when they daily devour about three-quarters of a pound of 

 clay, and are restricted to a meagre supply of vegetable or 

 animal provisions, such as lizards, ants, and gum, the Ottomacas 

 still remain healthy and strong, and never complain of 

 indigestion. These barbarians are ugly, wild, vindictive ; and,, 

 besides being passionately fond of palm-wine and maize-spirit, 

 use the powdered pods of a leguminous plant, the Acacia Niopo, 

 as a means of intoxication. The hollow bone of a bird serves 

 as a kind of pipe, through which they sniff up the powder,, 

 which is so irritating that a small quantity produces a strong 

 fit of sneezing in those who are not accustomed to it. The 

 effect of the Niopo is to deprive them for a couple of hours of 

 their senses, and to render them furious in battle;. Such is- 

 their malignant ingenuity that they poison their sharpened' 

 thumb-nails with the Wourali, so as to be able to inflict a 

 death-wound with the slightest scratch, and such their tiger- 

 like ferocity that they suck with fiendish delight the blood of 

 their slain enemies. The country these wretches inhabit is 

 described as romantically beautiful, a mournful contrast to a 

 state of society where man is eternally armed against man. 

 Such is the miserable state of insecurity of the weaker tribes- 

 that, when they approach a river's bank, they carefully destroy 

 fWith their hands the vestiges of their timid footsteps. 



During the rainy season the swollen Orinoco, like the 

 Amazons and other great streams, frequently undermines the 

 trees on his banks, and carries them along on his turbid waters.. 

 These natural floats^ covered with a profusion of parasites and 

 climbing plants, form so many swimming islands, pleasing to- 

 I the eye, but extremely dangerous to navigation ; for woe to the 

 )irogue which at night i& caught in their intricate network of 



