Arrival op an August Personage, 
115 
men remaining, it was unfortunately included in the valuable collection 
of orchids that got destroyed in Berlin. On another occasion we nofticed 
a giant ant-eater (Mynnecophaga jtibata Linn.) as it was swimming 
across the Aruka, but as none of our weapons were loaded at the time it 
escaped pursuit. It swims unusually fast, though only the tip of its long 
snout, a portion of its back, and end of its long tail is visible above the 
surface: the whole of the rest of its body remains submerged. 
395. On getting back to the settlement on the 7th June I found at 
the landing place a corial that differed in several respects from those 
previously seen, whence I surmised the arrival of Indian strangers : my 
conjectures were confirmed. They were Arawaks occupying the basin of 
the Asacota and had come on a mission with the information that their 
chief Caberalli was about to pay Cumaka a visit and would be arriving 
next day. Mr. King, who was already acquainted with Caberalli, excit- 
ed our curiosity not a little on telling us that he was one of the proudest 
of rulers and that on paying his round of such visits he usually contriv- 
ed to appear with as much pomp as possible, and that we should proba- 
bly find him surrounded with at least the half of his dependents. 
396. The sudden outburst of shouting and screeching at noon next 
day announced his arrival in the neighbourhood of the village. Attract- 
ed by curiosity, I also halted at the waterside to see the proud and dread- 
ed sovereign come along and gazed in surprise at the Cumaka, upon the 
smooth glassy surface of which quite a small flotilla was paddling in 
our direction to the accompaniment of a wild monotonous chant. The 
nearer it approached the landing the wilder became the shouting that 
was taken up by the thousand-voiced echo of the forest. At the head of 
the procession, and manned with a large number of paddlers was to be 
seen an extraordinarily big corial with its centre occupied by an elegant 
tent-cover made from the fronds of Manicaria saccifera, under which sat 
a figure in white trousers and similarly coloured jacket, with a head 
wrapped in a long red cloth the ends of which fluttered from the tem- 
ples, — this must be the chief- — and it was lie! 
397. Upon tin's corial reaching the landing-stage a general shout 
from all the boats heralded the important event. The powerful though 
small-statured man, strongly tattooed at the corners of the mouth and 
over the eyes, now rose and sprang on to the bank. With stately tread, ac- 
companied by some others of his people and without deigning to cast; 
a single glance at us as he passed, lie swept up the hill and to the settle- 
ment. At its entrance stood our William with the most important 
personages of his little State in a costume that would have made even 
the most serious minded individual laugh : the staff of office found sup- 
port in his right hand, a shirt covered with dirt enveloped his body, while 
a pressed-in worn-out hat crowned his worthy head, but in spite of these 
attentions, he also was not vouchsafed a single look. Without altering 
his pace in the slightest degree, Caberalli flaunted past him, and casting 
a critical eye over the different houses finally came to a halt in front of 
one that seemed to have taken his fancy. A few words in the Warrau, 
language which he addressed to the wondering occupants appeared to be 
strict orders, because the owners proceeded to clear out of it without 
delay. Hardly was this done when one of the taciturn attendants com- 
