The Guahivos. 313 
by means of signs. Soon two younger women came in, 
and these also received a string of beads. With them I 
succeeded better and they brought me a piece of cassava 
bread. Presently the others came in by twos and threes, 
till they numbered about thirty. All the men carried 
bows and arrows, and some a long blowpipe in addition. 
The arrows were about seven feet in length, and were 
furnished w T ith a very formidable head consisting of a 
blade of bamboo, as sharp as a razor, and from twelve to 
fifteen inches in length, by two inches in width, appearing 
capable of making a fearful wound. Fortunately I had 
made enquiries in San Martin as to what the Indians 
particularly fancied, and had accordingly provided myself 
with some pieces of steel to strike on flint, some roughly 
made metal arrow-heads and some red and blue hand- 
kerchiefs. To all the women I gave beads, but with the 
men I could make but little headway until an old man, 
who was evidently their chief, arrived. Him I propitiated 
with a piece of steel and an arrow-head, with which 
he was childishly pleased. The others now crowded 
round, and to every man I gave some trifling present. 
Our only means of communication of necessity was by 
signs, which they were very quick to interpret. They 
were extremely curious about my coat, feeling it all over, 
and looking at it inside and out. 
This encampment is a few hours' journey above the 
junction of the rivers Ariare and Gaviare and is situated 
at the edge of the belt of forest bordering the former 
stream. No one stopped in the houses at night on 
account of the mosquitoes : some betook themselves to 
the grass of the savannah ; some to the trees among 
which they slung their hammocks, high up out of 
