Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-09
BY G. M. DYOTT.

The whole meeting of our party with
the Wicurus who had intercepted oul
passage down river to my main camp
was typically Indian.
My camarada companion, Joao Gil
mace, had some odds and ends in his
pocket and, calling to the chief, we gave
him a few trifles, explaining as fan
as we were able our predicament. Fol
q time the situation was relieved.
As might be expected, it proved only
o temporary measure, because we heard
that many of the Wicuru tribe hao
walked to the bank of the Kuluene
River and had been waiting three days
for us to pass. The conference wound
up with promises and we continued on
our way. much to the relief OF the
Indians, especially Aloique.
For many hours We padded Steadlly
Most of the time was balllng water
out of the canoe in order to keep II
sfioat. but periodically I would look
round to see what the Wicurus were
Cp to. They maintained respecta-
bic distance until late in the afternoon
when they drew up closer.
Formidable Enemy.
The reason was soon apparent. The
Rfeer In front of us narrowed Gown
considerably, because of neck OF land
which stuck out into the stream. re-
6ucing the navigable channel to mat
Ter of 40 or 20 wards. The point was
almost bare of trees, but 1t rose sharply
for % feet or more and was OF an I'M
usual brown color. There was some
thing obviously unusual about II ano
! rubbed my eyes to get a better LOOK
1t was solid mass OF naked 1nolans
armed with bows and arrows!
Apparently the entire Wicuru tTiue
had migrated across country 10 inter-
cept lis and had taken up TINS sCrategic
nositton where they could practlcaLy
hold MS I'm at arrows point A flight
of arrows would have effectively pre-
vented our passing had we had mlno
to run the gantlet.
In any event, to have passed through
Wicuru territory with Indians OF an
other tribe without stopping Tor q pow
WOW would not have been dlpiomatic
move. We pulled up our canoes on the
beach with some trepidation.
If the Anauquas had been silent be-
fore. have no words to express their
r,urnbness on this occasion. One and
ell sat like mummies, their eyes on
their feet and not so much as look
ing I'D at the crowds on the shore
Joao Climaco was beside himself with
anxiety.
eve have nothing" he exclaimed
Nespairingly, as soon as our fragile ca
noes scraped the sand. I'VE have come
overland carrying packs. We could not
bring your presents" and SO on.
Over and over again We reiterated
this, explaining how our party had
descended the KuiuSeu and was at
present in camp farther down the river.
Let the chiefs come with us In
their canoes and we viii give them
presents on the morrow" we said.
A decided feeling of disappointment
swept the crowd. Some of the young
braves looked troublesome. A good
deal of chatter enSued. Yet We held
to our argument. We knew full well
that the five canoes of the Wicurus
could not carry more than Is men, and
1t would be possible for us to deal with
that number But to find gifts that
would satisfy several hundreds was a
thought that made me go hot all over
30 think about
What would happen to our small
band If such a crowd descended on us?
ny water the Wicurus could not reach
us becsaEe they had no canoes. BY
land theT would also be prevented from
leaving their territory by other water
ways that interviewed. Hence we would
be safe from invasion provided we
could only get away.
Nearly White Indians.
The Wicurus were exceptionally clean
looking, healthy specimens, pleasant to
look at A large number had very light
skins Beneath ligatures on arms and
legs their skin was almost white. They
were certainly the nearest approach to
white Indians that have ever seen.
1t Is quite possible that they came from
white stock originally. Their color was
sufficiently light to give rise to some of
the extraordinary stories Fawcett re-