14 Botanical Reminiscences. 
time to time hastening to the large trough to empty their 
cheeks of the chewed pap, and to take another mouthful of 
the bread. This tended somewhat too much to disturb 
our fantastic dreams^ and show us these children of nature in 
the mirror of reality. 
The Indians prepare different beverages of diverse fruits, 
and Indian corn ; but the favorite drink is paiwari, which is 
prepared from cassava bread. The bread is for the jairpose 
made thicker and is carbonized on its surface. It is then 
broken in pieces, and after boiling water has been poured 
over i% the women begin to turn it about with their hands, 
the large lumps being taken out and chewed, and then put 
into the water again. This disgusting process, they say, 
increases the fermentation of the decoction, and renders it 
intoxicating. Till now I had alwaj^s hesitated to taste the 
drink ; but an icy coldness ran over me when I saw with my 
own eyes the preparation of it, and knew that I should be 
compelled to put this horrible brewing to my lips, which was 
presented to us by the fair daughters of the chieftain ; and 
even then, if these had been only engaged in the preparation 
of the ingredients of the paiwaii, it would have filled me 
with disgust. But the Indians of Guiana know nothing of 
the pipe of peace ; but he knows the drink of peace, and to 
refuse this would be equal to treating the offered friendship 
with contempt. 
Scarcely had we taken possession of our hut, and our 
package had been brought from the boats, we opened them, 
and unpacked the contents to convince us of the state of the 
same. The constant rain which had accompanied us from 
Cumaka to this place, without intermission, we feared the 
worst for our treasures, that water had found access. Only 
those persons who have experienced something similar can 
judge of the sadness which must affect anyone when he opens 
the boxes supposed impervious to moisture, and expects to find 
the treasures he had collected with the utmost care and 
caution in good order, he sees nothing but mould. I have 
experienced this often. Here, mostly my botanical and 
entomological collections had been destroyed by wet and 
dampness. Even our articles for barter had felt the destructive 
influence of the damp atmosphere ; and also, that we and our 
crew were subjected to it, was shown the next morning, 
several of our men were laying in their hammocks attacked 
by fever. 
