sey 
RORAIMA. 325 
I gave them presents of pearl beads which they ac- 
cepted with pleasure, and for which each of them allowed 
me one kiss, although they knew not the meaning of 
this ceremony as it is not known among any of the 
tribes. The Indians looking on burst into loud 
laughter at the sight. After the family, which consisted 
of ten persons, had remained for two hours and had 
satisfied their curiosity by gazing at most of my posses- 
sions, they went off to visit the old chief in Ibirima-yeng. 
Both my coloured servants appeared to have been 
much attraéted hy the female beauties, and, with my 
permission, accompanied them to the next settlement, 
from whence they did not return until the evening of the 
following day. They appeared to have been very 
pleased and from that time made similar visits twice a 
week, at which they wore their best clothes and curled 
their hair a /a Titus, at the same time taking presents 
of pearl beads and fine-tooth combs for the young ladies 
of the settlement ; the combs were, sad to say, very 
much needed by them. Love was of course the reason 
for these journeys, and | did not begrudge them this, 
since they, without the slightest interest in the beauty of 
nature or their romantic surroundings, must have felt 
very dull. . 
For several days I had intended to ascend Roraima, 
but had been unable to get the Indians to accompany 
me until the morning of the gth of February, when the 
old Arekuna chief KAIKURANG arrived with twenty of his 
people and offered to ascend the mountain. My pre- 
parations were completed at eleven o’clock and I started 
with my people and the Arekunas, leaving only CorR- 
NELISSEN behind to take care of the hut as he was afraid 
ny 
