LIZARDS AND VULTURES 
inserted his grandmother’s stick into the crevasse and 
remained suspended, while the father, really believing 
that he had at last succeeded in disposing of his son, gaily 
returned to the aideja (village). The son, taking advan¬ 
tage of a liana festooned along the rock, was able to climb 
to the very summit of the mountain. There, tired and 
hungry, he improvised a bow and arrow with what 
materials he could find, and killed some lizards. He 
ate many, and hung the others to his belt. He went fast 
asleep. With the heat, the fast decomposing lizards began 
to smell. The odour attracted several vultures, which 
began to peck at him, especially in the softer parts behind 
(for he was sleeping lying on his chest and face, as Bororos 
generally do). The boy was too tired and worn to be 
awakened. The vultures then seized him by his belt and 
arms, and, taking to flight, soared down and deposited 
him at the foot of the mountain. There the boy woke up, 
famished. His supply of lizards had been eaten by the 
vultures. He searched for fruit and ate some, but he 
could not retain his food owing to injuries caused him 
by the vultures.” (Here a good portion of the legend has 
to be suppressed.) 
“ As best he could, the boy went to look for the aldeja 
but it had vanished. He walked for several days, unable 
to find traces of his tribe. At last he found the footmarks 
which they had left upon their passage. He followed 
them, and came to a fire freshly made, left by the Indians. 
He went on until he identified the footmarks showing 
where his grandmother had gone. He made sure they 
were hers by the extra mark of her stick on the ground. 
With the assistance of a lizard, then of a big bird, then of 
a rat, then of a butterfly, he discovered the whereabouts 
of the old lady. He was by then an old man. Upon 
perceiving his grandmother, he again became a boy, and 
hurried on, making a noise that she might know him 
again. She asked another nephew: ‘ Look and see who is 
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