The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-27
BY THOMAS ALEXANDER.
Copyright, 1908 by Thomas S. Alexand

Copyright, 1903 by Thomas S. AlexandeD
On August 90, 1902, l left Cali the prin-
cipal town in the department of the Cau-
ga, Republic of Colombia, on an expe-
dition into the interior of the country.
l was accompanied by another white
man-an English doctor-and four ma
tives. Our object was to collect entomo-
logical specimens in section of Colom-
ba heretofore UNEMPLOYED.
We did not return to Cali until June
of the present year. In the interval We
had many stirring adventures and ex-
traordinary experiences among savage
tribes. but the one episode of the trip
which overshadowed all the others in
romance, interest and excitement, was
our six weeks stay among the cannibal
dandies OF the Yari river. They are sure
~ one of the strangest savage races ever
discovered
Skipping over weeks and months of
travel and adventure. let US start with
one morning when, the banks of the
Rio Hacha, our native poems deserted
us. They would go no farther because
we were approaching the dominions OF
and practice cannibalism.
Fortunately. we struck the camp of
white Colombian who was gathering rub
Der on the banks of the river. We had
been recommended to him by Senior Pc
.lro Pesaro, a great man in the Colon
ian rubber business. and he, therefore.
gave us, for guides. two Indians who had
come in from one of the neighbJring
tribes to sell him rubber. One of these
tnen spoke Spanish, and so we could use
him as an Interpreter.
Besides our guns, reviewers and pro-
visions, we carried In our canoe a large
ntock OF machetes. scissors, pen-knives,
nsh-hooks. brghtly-colored cloths. and
other articles calcula ted TO purchase the
goodwill and assistance of the savage
tribes through whose territory we had to
pass
We rowed down the Rio Hacha for
four days, until we arrived off the settle
ment OF the Tama Indians. There we
landed. leaving the guns and everything
else behind in the canoe. Our guides led
up along a narrow track, through dense
tropical vegetation, to a clearing where
the tribe dwelt together in one great
house. as is the custom of all the Indians
In this part of Colombia.
The tribe only numbered from forty to
sixty people. the rest having been killed
Of shortly before by smallpox. Perhaps
this misfortune had soured the temper
OF the tribe, for they certainly gave us
a very cold and forbidding reception. Our
two Indians walked before us. carrying
~
peace-and explained that we were
friends
The chief of the tribe was lying on the
ground. evidently suffering agony He
had bad ulcer on the calf of his leg,
and had not been able to move or sleep
for q week. The doctor offered TO cure
him. and. after some demur. he consented
) an operation, and the doctor sent back
10 the boat for a lancet and the doctor
opened the leg, made an incson down
the calf. took out big thorn, and dress
ed the wound
While he was doing this. several Of the
Tamas grouped themselves around our
party. handling their blowpipes. wooden
swords and hatchets Significantly: and
plainly intimating that they would Kill
US IL anything went Wrong with the chief.
Luckily he slept that night for the first
time in a week: and next morning nothing
was too good for us.
We stayed three days with the tribe.
until the chief was quite recovered. Dur
ing that time they found out from our
Spanish-speaking Indian what we wanted
TO Go and where We wanted 20 so. As
soon as the chief was convinced that We
were not there for gold or land. or 10
enslave and murder the Indians after the
Colombian fashion. but only to look for
butterflies and such-like things he was
eager to help us
He gave us two picked men to set as
our "hogas." or guides. to take up to
the next tribe. Our own Indians went
back. The etiquette of these tribes al
reefs that men Of one tribe must not
pass through the territory an another
tribe to . third. Travellers are passed
long by different euides-unless they are
Killed by the first savage Indians they
meet.
Our "bogas' conducted us 10 the Or
teQuasas. a tribe numbering about four
hundred. Hearing flattering account q
Us. they naturally received US well. and
promised to pass Us along the line with
Ill due honor The Tamas then returned
10 their tribe,
Now came one OF the most remarkable
experiences Of our trip. The OrteQuasas
sent a message Introducing rs ~ the