680 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



Many a paddler has ended his voyage by an arrow from their ambushes — nor 

 does the owner of the boat escape them always. Opposite them, on the west 

 side of the river, are the Chacobo savages, but extending further north, even to 

 the river Beni. At one time they were a part of the Cayuaba Mission. Late 

 years they have returned to their old barbaric ways. Ascending the Madiera 

 River from San Antonio, in Brazil, the head of steamboat navigation the traveler 

 has to guard himself from the Cangaparangas, who shot and wounded Peter 

 Collins, one of the brothers who had the Madiera and Mamore R. R. in contract; 

 from the Carapuna and on the Mamore River from these two savage tribes. 



Well do we remember the anxious scrutiny of every bush and deeper shaded 

 point. Very few are the stoppages when once south of the Guapore, the Indians 

 willingly paddling from i A. M. to ii P. M. Often have we seen them sound 

 asleep, yet never missing a stroke of the paddle, even though they make from 

 forty-five to fifty strokes per minute, all dipping their paddles in unison. One 

 night, having camped on the Chacobo side, after supper, the fires being extin- 

 guished, we all lay down for a good sleep. About i A. M. the crackling of a 

 twig and sound of stealthy steps aroused the camp and all as quickly and noiseless- 

 ly as possible took to the boats and paddled to the other side. Turning a bend 

 in the river we came suddenly on a camp of the Houbarayos who were spending 

 the night there. Taken by surprise they had no time to make an attack. 'Tis a 

 question, which were the most frightened, they or our boatmen. The steersman 

 immediately turned the boat away from the bank and it needed no order to make 

 each paddle do its best. Reaching shallow water, some of the boatmen jumped 

 overboard and held the boat till morning, changing duty in the water; as one be- 

 came exhausted another took his place. Meanwhile we kept a close watch with 

 our arms ready. As daylight came our danger passed, as none of these Indians 

 will attack openly where there is any danger to themselves. At another time 

 while ascending the Mamore with the two Indians and a small boat with whom 

 and which the author had made the exploration of the river Beni, hugging the 

 eastern shore to escape the currents, a voice as if some one was hallooing for as- 

 sistance was heard. Carefully scanning the opposite bank, for some time, with 

 powerful field-glasses, a naked Indian (Chacobo) was seen standing alone on a 

 bit of sand-bar at the edge of the river. Besides calling he made signs for us to 

 cross over to him. Seeing we paid no heed to him he ceased calHng when there 

 descended the bank from their ambush some twenty-five others each with their 

 bow and arrows. 



On the river Beni, between ii° and 12° south latitude, are the small tribe of 

 Pacavaras. There are but four famiHes left, consisting of from eighteen to thirty 

 individuals each. Their skin is almost white, bodies well formed, and the women 

 very handsome, features more Caucasian than Indian. They pierce the septum, 

 of the nose and thrust feathers through it from each side making tl^em look as^ if 

 having heavy mustaches: The women wear small flaps or aprons. They a^ttehd 

 to the planting, cooking, and every day go to the woods for their fuel, ir.cluding 

 a wood which, once set on fire, never goes out till consumed, even though cut 



