202 



LIFE OF CANOEMEN. 



the tent could not accommodate so many comfortably; we were therefore 

 driven out. The rain-storm increased. I found my way down the clayed 

 bank to the canoe. Richards joined the schoolmaster under the rustic 

 hut. The musquitoes soon drove me out, and we all gathered round 

 a large fire built by the Indians, and watched their mode of passing 

 such a night. 



A large pot of water was put on the fire. It was midnight ; the 

 wind roared through the forest trees, and the rain beat heavily at the 

 feet of the Andes. The Indians drew knives and gathered round the 

 light of the fire to skin the yuca. Some divided them into small pieces, 

 and pitched them into the pot with a piece of salted meat. After the . 

 pot was properly hung over the fire by a strong raw-hide rope, they 

 lay down under their green leaf roof, and with their feet to the hot 

 ashes, and heads covered with an extra shirt, stretched out for a nap. 

 One kept awake as cook to attend the boiling pot. 



All slept soundly for a while. We were then disturbed by musqui- 

 toes and the rain. The Indians were snoring ; the cook was talking to 

 his pot as it boiled over, and the water caused a hissing noise in the fire. 

 Suddenly all jumped up, leaving their bark-cloth camisas under cover, 

 and joined the cook in the rain. 



We carry a tin wash-basin, which happened to be close by in the 

 light of the fire. I did not understand why it had not been put into 

 the canoe with other things. One of the naked red men picked it up 

 and placed it near the cook, who turned the hot yuca soup into the 

 basin. A satisfactory expression shone in every face as they squatted 

 around our tin wash-basin. Each man formefl his fingers into spoon- 

 shape, and dipped in ; thus they laughingly passed the remainder of the 

 night. One hand was actively playing between the basin and their 

 mouths, while the other was constantly in motion flapping the musqui- 

 toes, who came, up from the darkness behind. Our dog rose up from 

 his sleeping position to look on. The men were constantly calling him 

 by his familiar name, and dividing their share of the supper with him. 

 We were obliged to be resigned to our fate, not knowing where to go 

 for comfort, or how to get to sleep. These wild men accommodated 

 themselves perfectly to circumstances. We looked on as long as we 

 could keep our eyes open, and at last fell asleep. At day-break I found 

 myself refreshed ; but on opening my eyes, saw my pillow had -been 

 the body of the poor sick boy, who was so weak with the small-pox 

 that we had him sent up to the governor. ^ 



These kind-hearted men pay all the attention to the sick they possi- 

 bly can ; but they are at a loss to know what to do for the small-pox. 



