The Pulaskian., 1915-10-01

WnaL ne regardeQ as the oppression or the government officials, who visit them occasionally and tax them for their cattle. The old man supplied us with two boats and accompanied us ney to Tansen on the inland side of Lake Karataska. As we were cross ing the lake-so wide that in some di- rections one cannot see the shore the wind began to rise, and we were in danger of being swamped.
 Back of this immense Karataska lagoon are four other large lagoons, into one of which the Ibantara river empties. About it's shores there is a small Miskito population. A man of this neighborhood, who had the prom ising name of Morning Star,' owned a large duGout canoe, which he agreed to lend us and to accompany us on our way. His was the only family at home in his little village, everyone else having crossed the Kar- ataska lagoon to attend a "Siko," or ghost-expelling drinking bout. Morn ing Stars mother-in-law was a most repulsive-looking creature-a good model for witch of Endor painting but when we left her she said: Pray for me-"
 Down the Butuk River.
 Fourteen hours of padding and sail ing brought us through three of the lagoons to the small settlements along the Butuk river. We had great diff culty in securing transportation down river A boatload of merchandise, mainly rum, had been brought over the route the day before, and almost every man was suffering from the ef- fleets of it's presence in this region.
 In 12 hours travel with the river current, we did not encounter single human being nor any habitation of man. The banks of the river, how ever, literally swarmed with iguanas. It was the time of the year when they lay their eggs, and wherever a high sandbank stood out it was honey combed with their burrows. Our peo- plC JAOA WILL LAlCi4 AdA0o. Iguana flesh is superior to chicken, though the eggs are not as good as turtle eggs.
 At the mouth of the Plantain river, between Black river and Brewers Lagoon bar, a few Indians of the Paya tribe were encountered. Most of their people live far inland. They resemble the Sumu Indians of the hin- terland of Nicaragua, but have lan- guage quite distinct from theirs. At a village at the eastern mouth of the Butuk river we were received most cordially. Some relatives of our party had their homes here, and we were feasted on milk and native rice, besides the ubiquitous green ba- naEaS.
 In about thirty-six miles of walking after leaving this place, we saw only one house; and at the little village of Uni, only four. Our host at Uni was a desperate-looking character, and tho houses and the rest of the people were filthy and repellent. We were insulted (according to the Miskito code) by be- ing called wild, and threatened with divine wrath, if we did not stay to hold meeting. It seemed that Dana Bias, our host, had heard somewhere about the meetings that padres keep, and got the idea that one of them would surely bring good luck to his place!
 Half days march from the Kruta river we reached the Kaukirra group of villages-the poorest houses of any we had yet seen Here we discov- cred a heathen preacher, who actually possesses part of an English Bible, which of course he cannot read. A few families from Grand Caymans live in this neighborhood, and raise cat tie and cocoanuts. They say that since the cessation of mahogany cutting, the Indians have no money.
 Kruta was reached on Maundy Thursday. and we had a real mission ary meeting on Good Friday. That night we journeyed on to Cabo Ora cias Dios anu arrived there on the morning of our twenty-ninth day, hay ing covered, as nearly as we can es- innate. distance Of frem 451 to 475 miles.