Perfumed Necklaces, 
reached a height of 100 to 150 feet above the level of the ground, and 
which almost generally were wreathed in a dense wanton wealth of 
vegetation. Beautiful orchids, particularly Cyrtopodium, dehorn- 
hurgkia,, Cattlcya, Stanhopca, Epidemlrum, and Bromelm, Agave anlcB 
GesTteria covered thq fissures and dei)ressions where any earth had 
collected. Giant candelabrarlike Cactus, glutted with their pretty red 
smiling fruits, encircled for the most part the bases of these huge 
rocks. The awful barbs of the Bromelia Prevented us from climbing 
many of the crags. 'Amongst fruit-trees the mighty Lecythis rendered 
itself conspicuous above all others by its star-like outspread root-neck, 
and its truly colossal trunk: its branches were overladen almost to 
breaking point with the large seed-cover capsules, and through fear of 
the possibility of falling upon the Wads of those passing carelessly 
underneath kept them all at a respectful distance. Besides these, a 
number iof trees of the family ^Arionarrne predominnted. 
739. Wayapari promised to provide us with as much as we could 
possibly want in the way of supplies, from' out of his rich and extensive 
provision-fields, and also to make our wishes known amongst the Indians 
of the western bank of the Rupununi. from whom, owing to the floods, 
they had been completely cut off. Ajnidst the flourishing produce of the 
plantations that especially roused our complete surprise were the pine- 
apples mth fruits of from 14 to 16 lb. weight which in spite of their size 
had nevertheless lost nothing of their aroma. 
740. The whole, female population was now kept busily occupied* 
in fulfilling our requirements and obeying the orders of the chief : even 
the smallest girls had to lend a hand in the washing, cleaning and 
grating of the cassava roots. As already stated, the men among the 
Wapisianas surpass the women by far in beauty of body, but Mayori 
Eppong was as pretty as a May morning, and never have I seen a sweeter 
symmetrical figure : four and ,ai half feet in height, the width of her foot 
measured 2 8-10 inches. Although barely thirteen years of age she was 
already the mother of a dear little, girl a year or two old. The early age 
at which Wapisianas marr\' was shown by another Indian girl who 
already had two children although she also could hardly have been 
thirteen years old herself. The female sex among the Wapisianas 
receives a characteristic expression through several elliptical lines that 
are tatued around the mouth, as I have found to be also the case now 
and then among other tribes, but ne\'er practised to the same general 
extent as this one. Among their oimaments my attention was 
especially directed to large necklaces, made of seeds that sprend the 
sweetest perfume over the wearers : thev were the seeds of a Lrqvmhwm, 
Mi/roxiJoti Tohtifrra,. On ennuirino: for the nlnce whf^re the trees irrew 
T was told that they were to be found in large quantitv a two days' 
journey from \ here. Unfortunately I could not myself confirm the 
statement, but as the seeds were still quite fresh, there could be but 
little doubt of its truth. This therefore would be a second locality for 
this very interesting plant, which until now is only to be found in New 
Granada. The Indians described it as a forest tree of quite considerable 
size. 
