Humeseta Village. 
173 
equally laid under coiitiibutiou. Tlie loveliest coriectloii of flowers 
covered tlie .slope of tlie mountain on whicli we stood. In a motley 
mixture of infinitely delightful variation. Flora, influenced by a spirit 
of banter, seemed to liave scattered with mad redundance the most 
diversified tints of Androiiiedn , TliilxiudUi, Vorhi/sia, Bonnetia, 
Tcrniiträtnia^ Arcltytaeu, Goinphia, Bcjaria and Cletkra over the hori- 
zontally layered i)ictnres(|ue masses of sandstone whicli liere formed 
pleasant terraces and there wall-like precipices, the latter again decked 
with the lichens { Chtdonia) already mentioned. In between thousands 
of .fragrant Sobnillac and other orchids as well as 6 to 8 ft. high 
flowering- bush, the path now in the valley led over a small stream 
towards the settlement Avhich was soon reached. Humeseta consisted of 
5 liouses, two of which however were still under construction, and 50 
red-painted residentsi Avho, inquisitive and surprised, were gazing at us 
pale-faced strangers with our extraordinary baggage. Even before 
actual arrival, our two Indians had come out to meet us with the hardly 
encouraging information that here also we should only And just enough 
provisions as would prevent us starving. The luckless war which, like 
the Trojan, a woman had kindled, had likewise brought scarcity and 
want into this dale. 
412. Through being repeated so often during the past few days 
disappointment had almost become habitual, but alas! our pinched and 
discontented stomachs would not accustom themselves to hunger. 
Chaffing and smiling in sym])athy our followers looked first at their 
emaciated figures and loosely hanging folds of skin and then at the piece 
of cassava bread hardly the size of their hand, and the two; half-ripe 
plantains that fell to each one's lot when the provisions were divided. 
However much tlie stomach might want, the mouth was silent: with 
stoical equanimity (lui- men had withstood the enforced strain of several 
days' fast witb more than usual endurance: they knew it was not our 
fault, and quietly and willingly fulfilled the duties, nowT doubly heavv, 
that they had undertaken. Though their mouths were silent their very 
appearance made open complaint. Had anyone in Germany told me 
that within three or four days hunger could turn an otherwise healthy 
man into a skeleton, I should immediately have come out with an em- 
phatic N'o! — with the 8outh American Indians this is, however, not only 
possilde, Init is actually the case. Even at the end of the second day, 
after the curtailing of the accustomed rations, the ribs and remainin"; 
bones became more and more prominent over the hitherto fleshy figures, 
the fat body fell in, and like someone else's clothes the otherwise well- 
stuffed skin of the belly, hung down in folds. However incredible the 
following may appear, it is nevertheless true that after they had! <-on- 
sumed their share of the rations all at one go, one would think them 
imable to get another morsel past their lips for the next 24 hours — yet 
they puckered up this woTvldy skin in their hands tO' show us how mucli 
more they still wanted before its previous well-to-do condition could be 
restored. This fulness of body is resumed just as quickly as it is lost. 
413. As the two still incomplete buildings could not accommodate 
our party, we pitched camp close by in between the picturesque groups of 
