1 66 Travels and Adventures 



plants on the higher ground. It was evident that 

 the Indians knew by this time, all along the river, of 

 our ascent, and more than once I saw dusky forms 

 creeping stealthily away from the banks as the canoe 

 glided into sight. I had been informed that the 

 Indians were very much scattered over the country, 

 and although they maintain a deadly hatred against 

 all civilised human beings, the fact of our ascending 

 the river would not be sufficient to make them con- 

 gregate in numbers, and the stragglers along the 

 banks, although hostile in the highest degree, are 

 cowardly and afraid of fire-arms. On the fourth 

 day, proceeding with the greatest difficulty on account 

 of the fallen trees, we came to some three or four 

 small sheds, with plantations of maize in front of 

 them; a few animal - skins were lying about, but 

 every one of the inhabitants had taken to the woods. 

 The very emptiness of the huts showed that their 

 manner of life must be of the most primitive kind. 

 However warlike they are towards outsiders, there 

 are accounts that they live together in the greatest 

 friendship and good faith. We left the huts very 

 much as we found them, and piov.^ 1o d up the river. 

 I had seen several very pretty Oncidiums on the 

 banks, and I had begun to hope we were clear of 

 the Indians. On the night of the fourth day, we 

 camped as usual on a sand-bank, not being able to 



