2 TlMEHRt. 
catching or rubbing against every bush he passes, 
and the heavy boots and leggings which, fearful of 
snakes, he often wears, prevent him from moving with 
the degree of freedom and quiet absolutely necessary to 
command success. 
From these disadvantages the Indians are free. They 
are generally credited with being good huntsmen and 
good shots. As marksmen they are, with very few ex- 
ceptions, very indifferent and would never think of 
firing at a moving animal or flying bird; but they are 
as a rule good huntsmen. They are thoroughly ac- 
quainted with the habits of the game and where this 
is likely to be found ; and, owing to their freedom from 
clothing, they are able to move in the forest without 
noise and in perfe6l freedom. The slightest touch of a 
twig on the naked body is immediately felt, and either 
the branch is carefully moved aside or the hunter moves 
away from it ; in either case no noise is made. Ap- 
proaching in this manner, the hunter seldom fires until 
he is within a few feet of the game ; and to miss is then 
almost an impossibility. Moreover the colour of an 
Indian's skin seems to assimilate with his surroundings 
in the forest, so that, except when he moves, it is won- 
derfully difficult to detect him, even at a comparatively 
short distance. 
In some localities there is plenty of game, both bird 
and beast, as, for instance, up the Essequibo, above the 
falls, especially just below the mouth of the Potaro 
River. On the Caboori Creek on the Mazerooni, 
and, still higher up, on the Araparoo, a branch 
of the Cako, game of all kind is plentiful — mus- 
covy ducks, powis, and, as the sides of the creek ; 
