Change of Plans. 
153 
but too much suited to upset our little dreams, and made us watch these 
glorious figures in the mirror of reality. 
533. Notwithstanding that my brother and Mr. King had fairly pre- 
pared my stomach already by describing the manufacture of this drink, 
and although 1 laid tasted it frequently, even if reluctantly, a cold shiv- 
er ran down my back when 1 now saw it actually being prepared, and 
overwhelmed by the experience, had to put to my lips the awful mixture 
that was immediately to be handed us by the Lilies of the Valley, for 
even if they alone had prepared all the ingredients it would still have 
made me shudder to my very vitals. The Guiana Indian however knows 
no pipe of peace, but a drink of peace, to refuse which means wantonly 
to change the proffered sentiments of faithful friendship into ones of 
the most bitter hatred. 
We nau naruiy taken possession uj. our quarters man we uo- 
gan to open our boxes miu unpack tnexr contents, to satisfy ourselves as 
io how far they nugnt nave ueen affected by tne rain mat had laden 
continuously ever since uimaka up to now, and to save from complete 
ruin uy neat wnat mere sent was to save. Only those who have under- 
gone similar experiences can appreciate all tne pain and discourage- 
ment that a person must sutler w neu on opening his cases in the firm 
conviction that no damp cornu get inside and that his foresight and care 
must receive their rich reward m the proper preservation oi the treas- 
ures gathered — he now linds nothing but mildew and mould! Alas, i 
had to drink my cup of bitterness to its very dregs, particularly with my 
botanical and entomological collections, and it was long before 1 could 
recover from the shock consequent on what 1 found. Even our “trade - ’ 
had succumbed to the harmful atmospheric influences, and that we our 
selves were also subject to them, was shown by the following morning 
when more than half our boatlmnds, down with fever, remained in their 
hammocks. The original plan for the trip had to lie altered. The pit- 
iable condition of Mr. Hancock’s as well as my own feet, put any lengthy 
strenuous overland journey which it had been proposed to start here, 
quite out of the question. At the same time, those of the crews who 
were afflicted with fever had become an equally embarrassing company 
whom my brother dared not engage for a trip where I he expedition, there 
was every probability to believe, would be opposed to difficulties and 
hardships quite foreign to those it had hitherto experienced. The result 
was the sifting of the sick from the strong, hard though it was to agree. 
Mr. King, Hancock, and myself as well as the sick crew were to return 
in the one corial to the mouth of the Essequibo, journey up it to 
Bartika,- Grove, and wait for my brother who, after visiting the Cuyuni, 
would come down the river and join us there. 
535. Next day a general shouting notified that the men who had 
been sent hunting had returned from the forest, and it was in real aston- 
ishment that I stared at their powerful symmetrical figures laden with 
plenty of spoil and accompanied by the loveliest of dogs. 
536. Of all the coastal people the Waikas or Akawais constitute 
without doubt the most powerful stamp of men and surpass the remain- 
ing tribes not only in the vigour of their whole build of body but also 
in their nobility and regularity of features. They are in the majority 
of cases slim, generally over 5ft. Gins, tall, and their limbs firm and 
