Alargon in Favour 
19 
appearance of the natives reassuring, for they had their faces 
hideously painted, some all over and others only half, while 
still others carried painted masks before them. In their nos= 
trils they wore pendants, and their ears were pierced with holes 
wherein they hung bones and shells. Their only clothing was 
a sort of girdle around the waist. 
Gradually, intercourse increased, and presents of trinkets 
seemed to incline all 
the natives in Alar- 
gon’s favour. At 
length he discovered 
that they reverenced 
the sun, and without 
compunction he pro¬ 
claimed that he came 
from that orb. This 
deception served him 
well. Henceforth no 
service was too great 
for the natives to 
perform for these sa¬ 
cred beings. Every¬ 
thing was placed at 
their disposal. Alar- 
gon’s word was their 
law. They relieved 
the men entirely of 
the wearisome task 
of towing the boats, 
striving with each Freaks of Erosion, 
other for the privi¬ 
lege. Without this help it would have been impossible for 
Alargon to have proceeded far up the river, and he fully ap¬ 
preciated this, though the chief reward bestowed on the helpers 
and all the natives was crosses made of sticks and of paper. 
These, he informed them by signs, were precious, and he dis¬ 
tributed them in large numbers. The morning after he pro¬ 
claimed himself as coming from the sun, many swam out to 
