A TRIBAL QUARREL 187 



most beautiful and most characteristic of the far interior 

 of South America should in their journey visit this 

 region, and see the two great waterfalls. They are, 

 even now, easy of access ; and as soon as the traffic 

 warrants it they will be made still more so ; then, from 

 Sao Luis de Caceres, they will be speedily reached by 

 light steamboat up the Sepotuba, and by a day or two's 

 automobile ride, with a couple of days on horseback in 

 between. 



The Colonel held a very serious council with the 

 Parecis Indians over an incident which caused him 

 grave concern. One of the Commission's employees, 

 a negro, had kiUed a wild Nhambiquara Indian ; but it 

 appeared that he had really been urged on and aided by 

 the Parecis, as the members of the tribe to which the 

 dead Indian belonged were much given to carrying off 

 the Parecis women, and in other ways making them- 

 selves bad neighbours. The Colonel tried hard to get 

 at the truth of the matter ; he went to the biggest 

 Indian house, where he sat in a hammock — an Indian 

 child cuddling solemnly up to him, by the way — while 

 the Indians sat in other hammocks, and stood round 

 about ; but it was impossible to get an absolutely frank 

 statement. 



It appeared, however, that the Nhambiquaras had 

 made a descent on the Parecis village in the momentary 

 absence of the men of the village ; but the latter, notified 

 by the screaming of the women, had returned in time 

 to rescue them. The negro was with them and, having 

 a good rifle, he killed one of the aggressors. The Parecis 

 were, of course, in the right, but the Colonel could not 

 afford to have his men take sides in a tribal quarrel. 



It was only a two hours' march across to the Papa- 

 gaio at the Falls of Utiarity, so named by their dis- 



