May.] 



EXCURSION UP THE RIVER CAPAC. 



93 



ing some red-wood trees, they being the best fuel-timber that grows. 

 The heat it produced was so intense that we could scarcely approach 

 the fire near enough to cook our suppers, which was done by boiling 

 about two barrels of clams and muscles, and frying a quantity of the 

 mullet. 



About I I, P. M., we all turned in, or, more correctly, lay down by the 

 fire, keeping one man on the look-out through the night. At daylight 

 I was awakened by Cheleule, who gave me to understand that it was 

 time to be moving. Every man was soon on his feet, when we found 

 a warm breakfast ready prepared for us by the sailor who had the morn- 

 ing watch. As soon as this agreeable duty had been properly per- 

 formed, we re-embarked in our boats, and again proceeded on our north- 

 westerly course. 



May 12th. — At 1 1, A. M., we had arrived at the head of the bay, or 

 salt-water lagoon, and were now about one hundred miles from the ves- 

 sel, on nearly a west-by-north course for eighty miles, and north-west- 

 by-west for twenty miles. Here we found a tribe of Indians compris- 

 ing about four thousand souls, men, women, and children, in a village 

 situated in a very extensive valley on the west bank of a river called 

 by the natives Capac. This river extends into the country about sev- 

 enty-five miles in a northerly direction, and it was my intention to as- 

 cend it as far as practicable, in search of die-woods. 



We were favourably received and hospitably treated by the chief 

 and people of this powerful tribe of natives, and as soon as the usual 

 ceremonies of introduction were over, Cheleule prevailed on the chief, 

 whose name was Calexchem, to accompany us up the river ; he ac- 

 cordingly took a seat in my boat, and at 1, P. M., we were all ready for 

 a start, with a fresh breeze from south-south-west, attended with a 

 light rain. As we proceeded we carefully examined both banks of the 

 river for the purpose of finding die-stuffs. 



After ascending this river about twenty miles, against a strong freshet, 

 we landed at 7, P. M., for the purpose of taking up our lodgings for 

 the night in the skirts of a pleasant valley which extended to the river. 

 Here we pitched our tent — fire and supper followed in the usual style 

 of exploring parties ; after which each man gathered from the trees as 

 much moss as would serve for a pillow, and then stretched himself by 

 the fire, on which we had placed a plenty of fuel, to keep the tenants 

 of the forest at a respectful distance. 



About daylight we were alarmed by the roaring of some wild beast, 

 which the natives called faiche-ani, and which we afterward discov- 

 ered was the South American lion. After daylight we saw many 

 droves of guanacoes and deer ; and by 8, A. M., we had shot seven gray 

 foxes and four deer, the flesh of which was not unacceptable after our 

 previous lent on clams and mullet. We now resumed our search for die- 

 woods, but could discover nothing but inferior kinds of fustic and red- 

 wood, some specimens of which I caused to be conveyed to the boats. 



May 13th. — At 9, A. M., being convinced that any further attempts 

 to discover valuable die-woods on the banks of this river would prove 

 fruitless, we gave up the pursuit, and embarked in our boats to return to 

 the vessel. We descended the river leisurely, gliding down with the 



i 



