The Guahivos. 317 
the same time, they appear to be a temperate race, as 
during my visit they did not have any drunken feast, 
which they would surely have done on such a (to them) 
great occasion if such orgies were at all in vogue.* 
Neither did any of them ask me for aguadiente^ with 
which those who had been to San Martin, must certainly 
have been acquainted. Their language had rather a 
pleasing sound when spoken by the women, but when 
spoken by the men it was harsh and guttural. Among 
the curios I secured as mementos of this visit was the 
head-dress worn by the chief. It was a fillet composed of 
the orange and red feathers of the toucan, but differed 
from all other feather ornaments that I have seen, in that 
it had no stiffening of bamboo and is worn with the 
feathers in their natural position, falling one over the 
other, not standing ere6l, and having thus a very smooth 
^nd pleasing appearance. 
I also obtained from them a curious powder, which is 
taken like snuff and which has the effe6l of making them 
drunk. It produces besides the effe6l of opium, as they 
were evidently in a happy state while under its influence. 
This substance which seems to be prepared from a gum, 
* As to the temperate habits of the Guahivos, Humboldt remarks 
concerning those Indians at San Borja, that they were offered brandy 
in vain and they would not even taste it ; while on other occasions, he 
had frequently been unable to persuade Guahivos to partake of strong 
drink, even when they had been engaged in hard work and were 
consequently tired. In his time they were certainly a warlike race, for 
they were the terror of the traders along the course of the Meta, many 
of whom were killed at different times by the poisoned arrows of the- 
Indians. They also frequently carried off great numbers of cattle from 
neighbouring farms ; and, even at the time of Humboldt's visit, threatened 
to burn down the missionary village of Carichana. — Ed. 
SS 
