How the Waika Escaped the Sermon. 
U1 
lastly in Creole Dutch for the benefit of the Brazilians and coloured 
people. A horn instead of a bell called the congregation to church, 
where split trunk-stems formed the benches, and neither glass nor shutter 
closed the window-spaces, and I must admit that it formed a strange 
spectacle when this small band of worshippers in diverse coloured 
costume, or only half covered, took their seats in this simple edifice. Only 
a few were entirely, the greater number hardly half, clothed. Without 
altering their countenances in the slightest degree, they all sat in the 
little chapel like statues, witli their eyes directed steadfastly on the 
missionary. As there is but little singing, according to the ritual of the 
English Established Church, the frequent pauses in the liturgy were 
filled by the help of a barrel-organ that played several choral melodies, 
until the soft and melodious strains of the devout gathering again 
chimed in. The chieftain of the village, the Carib Irai-i, the last descend- 
ant of the once notorious Kazike of the tribe, Mahanarva, sat dressed 
in blue on a seat in the middle of the church. Irai-i still possessed the 
gold half-moon shaped sign of sovereignty of his dreaded ancestors. 
Curiosity had also attracted our Waikas and Warraus from the Barima 
and Waini into the building. Everything that they saw and heard here 
was new: they watched the preacher’s every movement with the most 
strained attention and were visibly affected by the sounds of the barrel- 
organ and the singing, yet when Mr. Youd commenced his sermon, which 
to me seemed somewhat too prolonged, their interest flagged, and they 
started turning their impatient looks towards the door. As we sat 
immediately behind the pulpit we were able to survey and accurately 
observe the whole gathering. The first to show signs of restlessness 
was one of the Waikas from Manari: he seemed unable to stand it any 
longer. When Mr. Youd turned his gaze from off the spot where he Avas 
standing, he also cast his towards the door, though the large number of 
people in betAveen and an innate feeling of propriety must have convinced 
him that it was impossible to gain freedom by that way without occasion- 
ing plenty of disturbance. The open window offered an easier and surer 
means of escape, so quickly making up his mind and without taking his 
eyes off Mr. Youd lie commenced moving sideways in its direction almost 
unnoticed. Whenever during the harangue the preacher looked his way 
the wily Indian suddenly stood stock still. He finally reached the 
longed-for goal, the windoAV raised some six feet from the ground, and at 
a favourable moment, on Mr. Youd turning to the side opposite, made a 
bound for liberty. His movements were carried out so slyly, and the 
jump through the window so rapidly effected that Mr. Youd did not 
have the slightest idea of his escape. It can be easily understood that 
Ave could hardly refrain from laughing and only felt all the more 
stimulated to do so when the rest of the Waikas and Warraus folloAved 
their leader with equal cunning, and Mr. Youd at last noticed our excite- 
ment. The remainder of the congregation however showed no signs of 
disturbance, but watched the proceedings without a change of counte- 
nance. When after the conclusion of the service we informed the brave 
missionary of the cause of our restlessness, he assured us that he had not 
