R. Sckomburgk^ Dr. PhiL 15 
A general shout of joy announced to us the next day, that 
the men who had gone out to procure game for the feast had 
returned with an abundant supply. I viewed with admiration 
the fine, powerful, well- formed figures of the hunters and their 
fine dogs. 
The Waikas are, without doubt, the handsomest men and 
women amongst the coast tribes. As much as we were surprised 
to see such fine men, they were as much to see the many 
strange guests; but they welcomed us most friendly, and 
offered us part of their venison, which they heaped first before 
their chief. The hunters having been away for several days, 
it had been necessary to smoke the greater part of the game, 
to prevent it from spoiling, which gave, especially to the large 
howling monkeys, Mycetes seniculus, KuhL, which were not 
skinned, but merely singed, a terrible appearance, and it was 
a long time before I could rid myself of the idea that these 
singed monkeys were negro children who had died in con-, 
vulsions. 
The game consisted mostly of Deer, Agutis, Pecaries, and 
feathered game. We choose from the offered delicacies deer, 
Pecarie, and birds. 
Our European stomachs were yet too much under the in- 
influence of imagination, which could not familarize itself 
with the terrible figures of the bent monkeys ; although this 
abhor ence was overcome in our future travel. 
After the return of the hunters from their successful expe- 
dition the activity of the inhabitants increased. The next 
day the older women returned from the provision ground 
laden with heavy baskets of cassava roots, sweet potatoes, and 
yams, whilst the men carried large burdens of sugarcane, the 
juice of which was to be added to the paiwari. The entire 
fair sex, old and young, were grouped round the baskets to 
peel, grate, and press the roots of the cassava to make them 
into bread, whilst the potatoes and yams were boiled in large 
pots. Woi3 a syllable could be heard, every communication 
and explanation Vvas done by gestures, because the mouth was 
filled with cassava bread. 
Another beverage which I saw here, prepared from maize, 
sweet potatoes, and sugar-cane juice, was named by the 
Indians, ^^Kasiri.^^ The maize was crushed in a vessel, which 
had the form of a mortar, and then boiled into a^ pap, the 
same was done with the sweet potatoes, and then mixed with 
the juice of the sugar-cane. So far, there was nothing ob- 
