DOWN THE RIO NEGRO 489 
whence he would return no more. In the morning 
he (Yurebe) would offer his services for the voyage 
and get the pay beforehand (according to custom) ; 
they would then embark, and on reaching the 
mouth of the river Guasie, which they might do 
in three or four days, they would take the montaria 
while I was sleeping and make their way up that 
river, whence they could at any time return to 
their own territory, as it is but a short cut (a day 
overland) from the upper part of the Guasie to 
several tributaries of the Guainia. They would 
thus shirk the long, tedious voyage for which they 
had already received pay. This was largely dis- 
cussed and approved by all. It then entered 
Yurebe's head to ask if " the man " had much mer- 
chandise with him. "Hulasikali! Wala ! " He has 
plenty. He has everything") was the reply. But 
they deceived themselves, for most of my boxes 
were filled with paper and plants, and not with woven 
goods as they supposed. ''Then," said he, ''we 
must not leave him without carrying off as much 
as we can of his goods, and for this purpose it will 
be necessary to kill him." This also was approved 
of and the consequences discussed at length, it 
being considered that if they remained four months 
in the Guasie (where there were plenty of fugitives 
to bear them company) the affair would be quite 
forgotten. His genius seemed to expand as he 
talked the matter over and finally conducted him 
to what might be considered a climax. "Why 
should we not kill the man now ? " said he ; " we 
have him here sleeping in the midst of the forest, 
far removed from all observers. When he left San 
Carlos every one knew him for a sick man, and no 
