EXPLORING FOR CASTILLO A RUBBER 
232 
No incidents of special note occurred on the return trip. The 
trails were so wet from recent rains that the many humming birds, the 
gorgeous butterflies, and the rich tropical flowers, were hardly noted. 
The swarms of horseflies that swooped down upon our patient beasts 
could not be wholly ignored, however, and soon all became most expert 
in killing them. As usual, a stray, starving dog appeared from nowhere 
and silently attached himself to our party. Although we knew he would 
crawl under our hammocks at night to give his fleas an opportunity to 
emigrate to richer pastures, he was accepted without protest. He had 
his virtues. Nothing could tempt him to steal, although starving, and 
he would allow a wild pig to cut him to ribbons that the hunter might 
get a shot, and he was after all the friend of man. 
During this ride a strange thing happened: Cruz asked what the 
TOWN BAKER V AT LAS MINAS. 
Americanos used the rubber for! It was the first time in the memory 
of the Pioneer that any cholo (civilized Indian) had ever shown the 
slightest curiosity in that direction. I doubt if he appreciated some of 
the uses described, but the making of waterproof clothing caught his 
fancy at once. I" or most of the Indians have a little bag made of cloth 
and coated with rubber, mixed with gunpowder, if they can spare it, 
to help the sun cure it. I11 this, or a purse made of iguana skin, they 
carry flint and steel, a bit of cotton wicking with one end let into a bone 
extinguisher, and tobacco for cigarettes. They are a quiet, anemic 
race, very superstitious, and so fearful of spirits and tigres that if 
overtaken bv night in the forest, they climb trees, and tying themselves 
to the limbs, remain until morning. They have a horror of gold, not 
