Schomburgk's Account of Roraima. 309 



comes over one on entering a venerable old Gothic 

 Cathedral. 



A tew days before starting for the Roraima the Indians, 

 whom we had sent to fetch our luggage from theTorong- 

 Yawise and who were to take it to the Roraima, arrived 

 and were richly paid for their honesty and for the services 

 which they had rendered us. They were sent back to 

 their settlement on the following morning. If they had 

 furnished us vith a new proof of the faultless probity 

 and honesty Cff the Inc ians, we were to experience during 

 the following days also the extremely delicate and sus- 

 ceptible sense of honour among these children of nature. 

 Among our Macusis there were three inhabitants of 

 Nappi, who at every opportunity that offered itself 

 managed to withdraw themselves from their work, 

 and had already got several reprimands in consequence. 

 This day all hands were required in order to complete the 

 necessary preparations. Everybody came hurrying up and 

 set vigorously to work, only three lazy ones remaining 

 quietly in their hammocks. My brother sent for them, 

 but all in vain. He next went himself to urge them on 

 to assist in the work, but even this had no effeft beyond 

 their shaking their heads and remaining quietly in their 

 hammocks. Indignant at their condu6t, and remem- 

 bering the excellent effefl of a similar coup de main 

 against the laziness of his atte.idants on his first journey, 

 my brother quietly cut through the ropes with which 

 the hammocks vrere fastened to the trees, which 

 of course brought the lazy ones quickly to the ground 

 and on to their feet. Quietly, and hiding their anger 

 perfectly, they now set to work and did their duty 

 without grumbling — but on the next morning they had 



RR 



