306 
A Fugitive Negko Slave. 
of the hill we saw the settlement extending along the edge of a great oasis 
between, picturesque masses of granite. Signs of activity developed in 
between the rocks and houses as soon as we were noticed from there. 
733. With open umbrella, A^'ayapari stalked over to the assembled 
groups, to\\ ards a big building, the strangers' house, where he sat upon 
a stool ;and in a long speech bade us welcome, the gray negro standing 
behind him the while as straight asj a candle and without a movement 
in him. When he had finished, the eldest men of the settlement com- 
menced to expound their eloquence. The women, as usual, stood at a 
distance from the strangers' house. 
734. Though I understood practically nothing of this endless 
oration, I tieverthelpss Jia<l to listen to it quietly, and varied the monotony 
by letting my eyes wander around the ci'owd. The Intensely gaunt 
figure of the negro which looked all the more ghosti like by jbeing clothed 
only in a linen apron, his short snow-white hair, and large excessively 
prominent ears, all combined to g'ive me a sufficiency of material ifor the 
most lively reflections, until, on conclusion of the ceremonial speech. T 
was convinced within myself that the old chap was) more like a mythical 
satyr than a son of the torrid coast of Africa. 
735. Watu-Ticaba settletnent consisted of five large "bee-hive"' 
houses and .5S inhabitants. The strangers' house, the most spacious I 
had hitherto seen, had Iteen most carefully cleaned and decorated with 
innumerable monkey, -jug. deer, and turtle skulls , as well as claws of the 
larger birds of prey, etc. We found our luggage, that had arrived before 
us. already placed in position here ion a sort of stand. 
736. Just as my brother discov ered a new governor in the chief, he 
did not recognise the settlement as the same one he had visited before. 
After the death of his old ac<|uaintance the village had been burnt, and 
a new one built somcAvhat further towards tlie S.E. 
737. As soon as etiquette allowed the old negro to leave his place, 
he came to welcome us in broken Portuguese, and at the same time to tell 
us his life-story. Making his escape from slavery on the Rio Negro 
some 40 years'before, he had settled among the Wapisianas, and later on 
bad married an Indian woman, by whom he had a son who, also taking a 
Wapisiana to wife, was living in one of the neighbouring settlements. 
The negro-type still prevailed in the son whom we saw next day, except 
that the skin had a lighter colour, tlie forehead was less receding, the lips 
were far from being so thick, and the hair began to curl only towards 
the ends. The breed, of the grandfather was no longer discorerable in 
the slightest <legree in his two children, boys of 8 and 4 years of age, 
whom he brought with Jliim : they were Indians completely. How lively 
the old negro's recollection of the past enjoyment of a drink of spirits 
must have been, was evidenced, by the sight alone of a glass of rum which 
put him into such a state of bodily excitement that he hardly brought a 
third of it funspilled\ to his lips. His hands trembled like an aspen Jleaf 
when we gave it to him, and after he had drunk what was left, he rubbed 
his hands, moistened; with the upset contents, all over his face. 
738. Watu-Ticaba lies in 2° 32' 2" lat. N. surrounded by lovely hills, 
between massive granit^^ rocks that often in the most, singular shapes 
