Strange Alliance Between Birds and Insects. 145 
treasures, together with his hammock, in a large clean plaited basket, he 
now and again vouchsafing a side-glance, to see what impression these 
valuables were making upon ns. After the ladies had supplied them- 
selves with the necessary cooking utensils, the fishing apparatus, and a 
large supply of bread, the procession finally made a start. Previous to 
their departure however, the women had still to contend with their num- 
erous dogs which had long been impatiently watching the preparations 
for the journey, and now howling with glee, jumped up to follow us: 
place in the canoe was only allowed for two of the favourite ones. 
507. We were soon again paddling vigorously up the Barima until 
a huge tree on the water-side, from which hundreds of purse-shaped 
nests of Cassinis crista tu s Baud, were dependent, attracted my whole at- 
tention. After a cursory estimate I counted over three hundred of them. 
Equally curious as 'their association during the breeding season, is the 
fact that on each occasion these birds select a tree unon which, ns well as 
its branches, the nests of Vespa nidulans and Morin are already to be 
found: thev form a regular offensive and defensive alliance with these 
insects. None of their numerous enemies, no monkey, no tiger-cat. dare 
approach either the eggs or the young, so long as both the allied nations 
live in unison with each other. It was just the breeding season and the 
most active life reigning in the Republic, though a shot from one of the 
T’irÜprOr, e^ne^s n^vevlhelest* ervpeprl sneh fright fllll011°'St the harmless 1 
little people that male and female flew off in wild confusion. 
508. The Curive, a small forest stream on our left, the month of which 
we soon passed, offered a new wav of communication which nevertheless 
can only 1 'e used bv small canoes between the Maruiwa and Waini. 
509. When our negro crew felt their energy on the wane, one of them 
would start a song, and bring renewed vim and faster stroke to the pad- 
dling: it put wings on the corial as the conductor completed the first, 
strophe which he intimated by striking the water with the flat of the 
paddle in a peculiar manner, and the others repeated in chorus the words 
that, had been sung. The security and ease with which the negroes han- 
dled the corial were shewn to a still greater degree lrv the Indians. Every 
corial has of course several seats made out of round bars as thick as 
one’s arm, though the Indians nevertheless preferred to occupy the out- 
ermost edge of (he vessel and knew how to arrange themselves so that, 
the balance was never upset: the anxiety which we continually exper- 
ienced in their midst, aroused a pitiful smile from them. It is astonish- 
ing that their body is by no means hardened against the external influ- 
ence of temperature and weather, as one would have expected from their 
whole way of living, for even a light shower will make their whole body 
shiver. If they are caught in the rain when travelling by water, they 
first of all try to meet Heaven’s disfavour with equanimity, and paddle 
more energetically, so as to get warm : if the shower declines coming to 
an end, they pull in the paddles, huddle up together, and let the boat 
drift quietly with the current. They never think of protecting them- 
selves with their clothes, but are far rather induced by a distant little 
cloud to take them off and hide them from the rain threatening. This 
very day however was of such a kind as to put not only their own 
patience but also ours to a severe test: it caused us finally to steer to- 
wards a small inlet which dementi pointed out as the landing of his 
