56 
Hamlet Loses thi; Track. 
bush-liog pads (Sect. 134). Heiulrick had already early in the day 
sprained his foot by striking it against the root of a tree, and althoiigli 
theieby forced to take repeated rest, had kept up the pace Avith us so lar 
as the i)ain possibly permitted. But the climbing of the huge rock Jiad 
so exhausted him and increased his sulierings that he was obliged to 
take a long spell on the platform Avhere Hamliet with the tv,o Indians 
pulled up. Hendriek asked the latter to remain with him, which they 
did, wliile Hamlet expressed his intention cf proceeding slowly on, as 
otherwise he might reach camp too late to prepare the supper. Llsndrick 
followed after a Avhile with the iwo Indians and reached the Manatiwau 
to lind Sororeng who enquired for Hanijlet : then only did lleudrick 
remember having heard a voice calling a little before dark which sounded 
to him just like that of a human being, but according to what the Indijius 
told him, belonged to some animal or bird. ^Nothing further could be done 
that evening. 
140. At break of dnj (April 28th) Sororeug, without Hamlet, came 
in from the banks of the ManatiAvau : he maintained that the lost one 
mlist Ixi miles away from us, because otherwise he would have heard and 
followed the shots Sororeng had fired all the night through. Eveiybody 
was now summoned to go search for the unfortunate fellow^ and after 
much persuasiG'U, coupled with the promise of several glasses of rum, we 
finally succeeded in prevailing uiwn ten of the Indians to stifle their 
antipathy to the negro — whom,, convinced of his having been long ago 
devoured by a jaguar, they were of opinion there was no necessity for 
further worrying over — and to take their departure with Stöckle in the 
lead. Tlie latter received strict orders to fire a gun evei-y quarter of an 
hour, and midst laugliter and shaking of heads they made a start. 
141. The news of our arrival had spread over the neighbourhood just 
as quickly as had l)een the case in other places, for already in the course 
of the forenoon a long file of Indians moved up to our camp to interview 
and greet the first white people Avho had visited the district. Heading 
the procession strode a tall figure whose body, Avith the exception of the 
abundantly painted legs and arms, Avas Avrapped in a itiece of coloured 
cotton which, through goodness only knoAvs Avhat channel, had been 
driven out of its course here in the way of trade. The hair Avas combed 
back and a miass of roucou pasted over the forehead, into Avhich Avas 
stuck the Avhite down of the hokko hen. Follow ing him and carrying a 
sort of stool, camp another dressed-up Indian with Avhom Avas associated 
a Avhole host of othei-s, their bodies thickly ]>ainted all over, aJid then 
tlie AA^omen who brought up the train. On arriving at our t^ent, the chief 
commenced his salutation ceremjony which as usual consisted of his 
moving the flat hand three times up and doAvn close to our faces Avithout 
touching tlienV, and on its completion gravely took his seat upon the 
stool that in the meantime had been placed in position, and listened to 
the accounts Avhich the others Itrought him coucei-niug our business : for 
he seemed to consider it beneath his dignity to Itecome personally 
acquainted with us and our l>elongings. The description of objects that 
wei-e beyond the intelligence of these primitiA-e people, and that had been 
seen to-day for the first tiuile, appeared to be someAvliat perplexing. At 
