212 Through the BraziHan Wilderness 



were some big bees, however, which, although they 

 crawled about harmlessly after lighting if they were un- 

 disturbed, yet stung fiercely if they were molested. The 

 insects were not ordinarily a serious bother, but there 

 were occasional hours when they were too numerous for 

 comfort, and now and then I had to do my writing in 

 a head-net and gauntlets. 



The night we reached the Burity it rained heavily, and 

 next day the rain continued. In the morning the mules 

 were ferried over, while the oxen were swum across. 

 Half a dozen of our men — whites, Indians, and negroes, 

 all stark naked and uttering wild cries, drove the oxen 

 into the river and then, with powerful overhand strokes, 

 swam behind and alongside them as they crossed, half- 

 breasting the swift current. It was a fine sight to see 

 the big, long-horned, staring beasts swimming strongly, 

 while the sinewy naked men urged them forward, utterly 

 at ease in the rushing water. We made only a short day's 

 journey, for, owing to the lack of grass, the mules had to 

 be driven off nearly three miles from our line of march, 

 in order to get them feed. We camped at the headwaters 

 of a little brook called Huatsui, which is Parecis for 

 "monkey." 



Accompanying us on this march was a soldier bound 

 for one of the remoter posts. With him trudged his wife. 

 They made the whole journey on foot. There were two 

 children. One was so young that it had to be carried 

 alternately by the father and mother. The other, a small 

 boy of eight, and much the best of the party, was already 

 a competent wilderness worker. He bore his share of 

 the belongings on the march, and when camp was reached 



