COLONEL RONDON AND NATIVES 211 



others. It was a strange and interesting sight to see 

 these utterly wild, friendly savages, circling in their 

 slow dance, and chanting their immemorial melodies, in 

 the brilliant tropical moonlight, with the river rushing 

 by in the background, through the lonely heart of the 

 wilderness. 



The Indians stayed with us, feasting, dancing, and 

 singing, until the early hours of the morning. They 

 then suddenly and silently disappeared in the darkness, 

 and did not return. In the morning we discovered that 

 they had gone off with one of Colonel Rondon's dogs. 

 Probably the temptation had proved irresistible to one 

 of their number, and the others had been afraid to 

 interfere, and also afraid to stay in, or return to our 

 neighbourhood. We had not time to go after them, 

 but Rondon remarked that as soon as he again came 

 to the neighbourhood he would take some soldiers, hunt 

 up the Indians, and reclaim the dog. It has been his 

 mixture of firmness, good nature, and good judgment 

 that has enabled him to control these bold, warlike 

 savages, and even to reduce the warfare between them 

 and the Parecis. In spite of their good nature and 

 laughter, their fearlessness and familiarity showed how 

 necessary it was not to let them get the upper hand. 

 They are always required to leave all their arms a 

 mile or two away before they come into the encampment. 

 They are much wilder and more savage, and at a much 

 lower cultural level, than the Parecis. 



In the afternoon of the day following our arrival there 

 was a heavy rain-storm which drove into the unglazed 

 windows, and here and there came through the roof and 

 walls of our daub-and-wattle house. The heat was 

 intense and there was much moisture in this valley. 

 During the downpour I looked out at the dreary little 



