53 
R, Schomburgk, Dr. Phil. 
village our two guides commuiiicated the disagreeable news 
that there were no more provisions in the village than just 
to keep us from starving. The unlucky family foil, which, 
like the Trojan one, had been caused by a woman, and had 
brought misery also in this beautiful valley. To such dis- 
appointments we had become accustomed, as it had been 
repeated in every settlement since we left Torong-Yauwise. 
With a satirical pitiful laugh, our Indians looked first on 
their lean body, and then at a small piece of cassava bread 
not larger than a hand, and a couple of half ripe bananas, 
which was the ration each of us had to receive. With a stoic 
calmness, our followers withstood the continued fasting, and 
the more than usual exertion ; they knew that it was not our 
fault, and quickly and willingly they fulfilled their duties. 
Although their lips were silent, their appearance told a 
difierent tale. I would have believed it impossible that men, 
in three or four days, could be reduced to such a state from 
not having their regular meals ; their ribs and other bones 
began to show under the ill-nourished body, and the skin 
became folded. 
We pitched our camp near the village, between picturesque 
groups of fern trees, and soon the inhabitants were collected 
round us. 
The Indians who accompanied us from Torong-Yauwise 
had promised to come thus far ; the want of provisions we met 
with at every settlement caused them to refuse to go any 
further, and the next morning they were to return to their 
home. Seeing so many young men amongst the inhabitants 
of Humeseta, and also the friendly and obliging demeanor of 
the chief, we were induced to ask the question, after distri- 
buting a few small presents, whether some of his men would 
not accompany our returning Indians to Torong-Yauwise 
and bring from there, some of our package left behind, 
especially such containing provisions, and bring them to 
Eoraima, where we intended to stay several weeks. Very 
soon, the necessary number had been found ; the honesty of 
the Indians was a surer guarantee than any guard we could 
get to protect our riches, and we were not disappointed, they 
brought their burdens safe to Horaiina. 
The awful, but beautiful phenomenon which we had ex- 
perienced so often repeated itself to-night in a degree as it 
had never happened before. The roaring of the thunder ; 
the fiashes of the lightning, vhich almost uninterruptedly 
