366 
The Wet Season Alteks Our Plans 
last few days fairly disquieting rumours had spread abroad through the 
agency of the Indian strangers who visited us. The Brazilians, it 
seemed, were preparing for war; indeed, there were even troops already 
on the way to Fort Sao Joaquim, which, in conjunction with its 
garrison, were to seize Pirara and drive out the English. Though the 
flags were certainly never employed for war signals, they were all the 
more frequently utilised for mutual invitations, he it now for a dinner, 
a hunting party, or something else of the same sort. 
991. The season of the year was already too far advanced to allow 
of us carrying out our original plan of travel, which was to follow the 
course of the Cotinga and from there push on to the highest rise of the 
Pacaraima Range and its real point of junction with the Parima Range 
of the Orinoco which, at the same time, forms the watershed between the 
river system of the Orinoco, Esse'quiho and Amazon; the journey could 
not be extended now to such a length, and so the source of the Takutu 
came to be chosen as the aim and object of our present expedition. 
992. Although Captain Leal, on his late visit, had promised the 
Expedition to send a large corial as far as the mouth of the Pirara, so 
that the instruments at least could be conveyed in this up the stream, 
the vessel mentioned had not yet come to hand, and we could explain 
its non-appearance by nothing else than that the rumours of the Indians 
were not entirely without foundation, and that probably he no longer 
had a free hand over his actions. The longer the delay the closer the 
rainy season, and our journey had to be completed before its commence- 
ment. 
993. Our houses accordingly presented a busy appearance once 
more. I had to expose the treasures I had gathered several 'imes again 
in the sun, to put them away afresh, and to stack them in the driest 
places. Then followed the packing up of the astronomical instruments 
of the expedition, the provisions, kitchen apparatus and European tools: 
for although the Indian understands how to make thousands of things 
with the knife that he has either swapped or earned, cases nevertheless 
only too often occur where, as we had learnt by experience, this is not 
sufficient. With this baggage was now also included the articles of trade 
and a quantity of rum for the Indians with whom we were to come m 
contact, and then my bibulous paper for drying the plants. All objects 
were packed in tin cases and bags of ticking which, lo prevent the water 
getting in, were thickly smeared with tar and oil-paint. However 
reluctant we were to consent to this matter of rum, it was nevertheless 
one of the necessary evils, because it is the only infallible means of 
making the assistance and services of the Indian available to the travellei. 
If no knife or axe can tempt the lazy Indian out of his hammock and 
induce him to render some indispensable service, a glass of rum wall 
manage it. Comfort, together with every obstacle that previously 
confronted him like an armed guard, must now T yield to the mighty 
Spirit: liowmver great may be the labour demanded of him to earn it, he 
cannot resist the temptation of the glass: wdiatever is asked of him, the 
glutton now considers nothing too hard. If you promise an Indian a 
