360 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



as we proceeded. We saw, during our walk, a small flock of 

 flamingos, whose feathers were unusually deep colored and 

 brilliant. 



On our way along one of the branches of the rivulet, we 

 came upon two Indians, catching camar&nes," or prawns j 

 each was armed with a small hoop-net, which they swept under 

 the bank, and scooped out from two to twenty at a time. Their 

 trowsers were rolled above the knee, and they waded through 

 the water with the least noise possible. 



A little further on, we met an old Indian carrying a rude 

 iron axe upon his shoulder. He saluted us with a smiling face ; 

 and halting, looked at our guns with an expression of curiosity. 

 He directed us with his hand to a branch of the stream where 

 we would find plenty of game ; for which kindness, we gave 

 him a porter bottle that we had just emptied, an article, in this 

 part of the world, not easily procured by the lower classes f 

 gourds of difierent forms being dried, and used as substitutes. 

 <<Dios le pague mi patron" — may God pay you, my patron, 

 said he, when he received it, with an inclination of the head. 

 We continued on our course, and he turned upon his heel, and, 

 in our company, retrod the path which he had just traversed. 

 He made many inquiries about the guns, and was very curious 

 in examining the percussion locks and caps. Presently he dis- 

 appeared, but soon returned with a large gourd of chicha, which 

 we found very acceptable, and quite as excellent as we were 

 led by fame to expect the chicha of Guarmey to be. After we 

 had done honor to his gourd in deep potations, he led us to 

 a spot where the sand had formed a flat in the river, which 

 was shaded by rocks and trees. Two women were seated on 

 the bank, preparing prawns for a meal ; they took ofi* the shell, 

 and threw them into a gourd ; a plentiful supply of lime juice 

 was squeezed over them, and some salt, which was broken 

 from its bed not far ofi", was then added. In the meantime, a 

 young man was upon his hands and knees, blowing a fire made 

 of faggots, to heat some stones, which were to be thrown 

 amongst the camar&nes," to cook them. Besides this dish, 

 they had a quantity of small dried fish, and a gourd of " mat6,'* 

 and several of chicha. 



