FISHING PARTY OF MOJOS INDIANS. 



225 



bed of an uplifted sheet of water. Water flows into it all round the 

 edge, except at the head of the Madeira, its outlet to the sea. 



All the streams that flow from the mountains are confined between 

 high banks; the water is deep; cultivation and navigation join hands. 

 Here we found the first signs of trade and of a friendly exchange. 



We floated down the stream, passing the mouth of the Secure, which 

 was two hundred yards wide, flowing in from the westward, and landed 

 to enjoy breakfast, The disappointed governor distinguished himself this 

 morning by making excellent coffee, with milk which we brought along 

 in an earthen pot, manufactured by the Indians from clay of thepampa. 



On the sides of the river there are several bays, which the schoolmas- 

 ter calls " Madres." Some of them are quite large. As the water falls 

 in the dry season these madres supply the river, and in the wet season 

 fill up again. From the name they are considered mothers to the river, 

 from which it obtains sustenance when it gets dry. 



We encamped for the night on a sandy beach, from which I judge 

 the Secure river is not navigable far up, and that the distance between 

 its mouth and the rocky formation is not very far. The lands to the 

 west of the mouth of the Secure are wild and little known. Cattle roam 

 upon the plains, and the cinchona trees grow in the woods. 



We found a party of fourteen men and boys encamped on the beach t 

 They had been up the river fishing and hunting. A fire was built by 

 them ; their canoe lay by the shore, and their white cotton hamacs were 

 slung to poles stuck in the beach in a circle. They all go to bed by 

 word of command, otherwise the hamacs would all come down by the 

 run. They hang their hamacs out where the night breeze, as it comes 

 sweeping up the river, will drive the musquitoes away. Near the trees 

 they are very troublesome, and in the bushes insufferable. 



The intelligent bright faces of the boys pleased us. They looked like 

 little girls in their long cotton frocks of white, standing round the camp- 

 fire watching yucas roasting. The youngsters noticed us much more 

 than the men of the party, who were generally from twenty-four to 

 thirty years of age. These were Mojos Indians, from the town of Trin- 

 idad. Our Canichanas crew spoke a different language, though they 

 only live a short distance apart on the pampa. The Canichanas came 

 from the town of San Pedro, and yet these people do not understand the 

 language of each other. 



When our men landed, I noticed they said nothing to the others. 

 Our fire was built and camping ground was near theirs, but the Mojos 

 boys and North Americans were the only ones disposed to be sociable. 

 Mamore seemed the favorite of both parties ; they both fed him, and as 

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