R. Schomburgk^ Dr. PhiL 
3 
distant sounds of a wild song. Like an electric spark the 
first sound operated on the muscles and nerves of our rowers. 
The boats flew more quickly towards the alluring sounds. 
The sharp ears of the Indians very soon discovered that the 
inhabitants^ were assembled at a drinking debauch. Our 
Indians, who up to this time had been mute and dull, became 
other beings. One encouraged the other to greater speed to 
join in partaking the expected paiwari. 
Soon we reached the left bank of the mouth of the rivulet 
Honobo, on which the Warrau settlement of the same name 
was situated. The high water facilitated our following the 
snake-like course of the creek, and after a short time the 
village Honobo, situated on a gentle rise, was lying before 
us. As soon as the Indians spied the roof of the first hut 
they broke out into loud cries, to inform the inhabitants 
that new guests had arrived. This had attracted the popula- 
tion of the village, who hastened to the landing-place, where 
they greeted us in loud voices. At the entrance of the settle- 
ment we observed an Indian in European attire — a great coat 
— who, on each side, had a drummer, which both, the nearer 
we came, increased the beating of their drums. 
Under this deafening noise we were welcmned by the 
dressed person, who was the chief Maronari. The first 
glance convinced us that the strength of the pawari had very 
nearly overpowered the chief ; some of his wives were also 
in the same state, and it was with great difficulty that they, 
as well as their lord, could keep their equilibrium. Accom- 
panied by the staggering, noisy inhabitants, we entered the 
settlement, which consisted of five large huts, surrounded by 
the most luxuriant provision fields. When we, at the request 
of the chief to choose any of the huts for the night, made an 
inspection of the same, we observed several Indians had fallen 
victims to the intoxicating drink. This spectacle pre- 
vented our occupying one of the huts, and we were just in 
the act of slinging our hammocks outside when the wild cries 
of a woman attracted our curiosity, when we found in one of 
the huts an Indian woman, who was raging in a hammock of 
which the opening was tied together. We were told that it 
wasffine of the amiable chieftain’s wives who had assisted in 
the feast, and had taken more than was good for her. When 
the woman observed the white and black people in her hut 
she increased her screaming,, and tried all in her power to 
free herself. 
