INDIAN SUPEESTITION 53 



lurking for the tortoises that pay their nightly visits to the 

 bank, anxious to bury their numerous eggs in the sand. But 

 the jaguar prowls about, intent upon the same prey, and on 

 tliis account the Indians never go to any distance from the 

 watch-fires, either alone or unarmed. 



Thus almost every landing on one of these river-islands 

 furnishes fresh provisions for the continuance of the journey; 

 for the captured tortoises are boimd to the raft, where, in the 

 enjoyment of water and shade, they continue to live for a long- 

 time. 



As soon as the supper is finished, the Indians invariably splash 

 about in the water ; and having thrown an additional log upon 

 the watch-fire, they all stretch themselves on the ground, under 

 their dark-coloured toldos, or mosquito covers, which on the 

 white sand have the appearance of as many coffins. Their tran- 

 quil breathing soon tells that they are enjoying the deep repose 

 peculiar to their race ; but sleep forsakes the European amid 

 scenes so novel and so grand. The soul is struck with im- 

 pressions which compel it to reflection. The ripple breaks 

 lightly on the bank ; no noise, save the crackling of the fire, 

 breaks the stillness of the night. Only from time to time the 

 splashing of a fish is heard in the distant centre of the stream. 

 The same stillness reigns in the skies; for not the slightest 

 cloud dims the brightness of the stars. But suddenly the waters 

 begin to rustle at a distance, as if wave were rolling after wave ; 

 and as the strange sound draws nigh, an unusual agitation be- 

 comes apparent in the water. The awakening Indians whisper 

 anxiously, for they imagine an enormous reptile to be the cause 

 of the phenomenon. They also believe the lagunes of the great 

 stream to be the seat of a prodigious serpent, equal in size and 

 power to the fabulous sea-snake; for the yacu-mama, or "mother 

 of the waters," as this imaginary monster is called, attracts by a 

 single inspiration every living creature — man, quadruped, or 

 bird — that passes within a hundred feet of its jaws. As the 

 maelstrom sucks down the helpless boat that comes within its 

 vortex, thus the mighty air-current forces its prey into the 

 wide mouth of the monster lurking in the thicket. For this 

 reason an Indian will never venture to enter an unknown 

 lagune without blowing his horn, as the yacu-mama is said to 

 answer, and thus to give him time for a speedy flight. The 



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