CHAPTER I. 
Departure from Pirara — Vegetation of the Savannahs on the far- 
ther side of the Pirara — Lake Yenturu — Whirhvinds ou, th-3 Savannah — 
Animal life in the Savannah dust — Opening of the Pirara into the 
Mahu — Camp on the Pirara — Sources of the Mahu — Return of Mr. 
Fryer with the sick man to Pirara — Meteorological Observations on the 
Pirara — Savannah fire— -Junction of the Mahu ivith the Takutu — Gm.v 
tomcntosa — Delphinus amazonicus — River Capaija — Camp at the moutU 
of the Mucu-Mucu on the Takutu — Mouth of the Camu and Au:arrimanni 
■ — The first rapids of the Takutu — 3It. Curatawuiburi — Opisthocomus 
eristatus— Banks of the Takutu with Agate and Chalcedony — Anas 
moschata — Mouth of the Saivara-auuru — Route of Surgeon Hortsmann in 
*he year 1739 — Mountain-system formation of the bed, of the Takutu, — 
Ilydrohjcus scomberoidcs — TTV/// of living of the Fish Otter — Scabuuh 
Cataract and River — Tabernaemnnfana Huinboldfii — Tenette Village— 
Cursato Mountain Range — Customs of the Wapisianas—Ibis oxyecrcus. 
1. Awakening moi-n, '2ith March, 1842, found us all busily engaged: 
the village itself had become a heap of excited ants ; old and young Avere 
gathered around our house because it meant good-bye once more to 
women and children . Though the bundles had been divided up amongst 
their respective carriers the night before, there was still a lot to be done 
in altering the packs before Clie broad forehead bands could l>e fixed in 
position. The Indian rarely carries a load on his shoulders, but almost 
always with the help of the neck muscles. A broad band of bast with 
the ends tied on to the two main-sticks of the pannier (Kute), is of just 
such a length to allow of the load, resting on the back, being carried 
by the head, while the middle of the supporting band pulls ou the fore- 
head, instead of two liands dragging on the shoulders as with us. Al- 
ready by yesterday afternoon, the village showed up more lively than 
usual, because in addition to the solid sulistitute for Paiwari which, like 
our soup-tablets, had to be taken on the journey, eacli woman had to pre- 
pare a number of delicacies etc. for her husband, to fill his rouge-pot 
afresh, in short to look after all the little trifles required on an Indian 
excursion, and get everything packed in a w^ater-tight little basket 
(Pacara) plaited out of Calathea. If the trip lasts several days the 
ever-present Paiwari is also necessar^^ : to do without his favourite drink 
for longer than 24 hours would be a demand to which the native would 
only submit Avith a growl. A fe^v days before the house-master has to 
leave, his wife bakes some fresh cassava bread; a portion of this is 
chewed, while the remainder is kneaded with the chewed mass and 
thickened manihot juice into a dough which is carefully preserved and 
taken on the road. After four or five da'ys, the fermentation process has 
already taken place. Wlien the Indian wants to quench his ever active 
thirst, he takes a small quantity of the mess, puts it into a calabash, 
pours Avater on it and now stirs away until such time as it is all dissolved. 
B 1. 
