Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
BY G. Nj. DYOTT.,


tiously place them under the COZ Oh
which l was sitting.
If I could but accomplish this l coulo
then stretch out and go to sleep. the
usual question arose, how 1t should DE
done. and for some time / turned the
matter over in my mind. In the enc
got Jack to take couple of flares into
the forest and set them of with a
match. Every ones curiosity was aroused
to the bursting point and Jack became
the center of attraction.
During the few moments OF excite.
ment that ensued quickly transferred
the knives to q safer hiding place. the
fun over, the same group OF lnolans
again established themselves with more
determination than ever. After a suit
able interval I rolled up my blanket III
pretense of adjusting 1t SO tney couIo
see that nothing was concealed beneath
it's folds. This maneuver did not seem
to satisfy them. They knew those
knives we're about somewhere and they
began fidgeting around in persistent
search of them.
The next thing I knew one OF the
Indians had edged his way up TO the
end of my cot and brown arm was
extended beneath it feeling about IN the
grass. Unfortunately was too late 10
SION the maneuver and the new resting
Mace of the package being discovered.
the game of waiting was resumed. Ii
the caraiba would only go to sleep II
would be so easy to take something OF
value unobServed.
Hardware Blocks Sleep.
Realizing how their minds were work
ing / decided to- put everything back IN
Nv cot. This time it was Jerry who
came to the rescue. He sat on the END
of the bed between the Indians and my
self. thereby obstructing the view as
much as possible. He held my flash
lamp in his hand and periodically
switched on the light full in their faces
On each occasion while they were
dazzled by the glare I deity removed
everything and put the whole lot unoer
nv blanket. It took half an hour 10
bring about the transfer, but by /!
o'clock everything was safely slowed
away and Jerry went of to his own
quarters to sleep. >
I shall never forget that night as l
lay full length grasping a rifle, a re-
volver, two machetes, IA knives ana an
assortment of hardware in my arms,
pretending to be comfortably asleep. I
was desperately tired, yet dared not doze
even for moment. Several times was
conscious of stealthy fingers trying to
find an opening into my sleeping bag.
But at 1880 all further attempts were
abandoned and the Indians took to their
hammocks
At 2:30 I got up and quietly set
about the work of packing. BY the time
daylight began to filter through the
branches overhead I had unpacked all
my personal effects, sorted and rear
ranged them ready for my journey over
land.
I felt more like falling asleep than
embarking on a days work, but 1t was
imperative to get clear of the Indians
at any cost. To have remained longer
without doing out presents would have
been disastrous. y
While some of us remained on guard,
the canaaradas carted the baggage
down the steep bank and loaded up the
canoes which were in readiness below.
At 9 all was stored on board and our
feet showed off from shore.
stood on the eastern bank and
watched them go. Joao Climaco was
beside me. He had decided at the last
moment to come along and we took
a young Baikari Indian to help us.
Companions Disappear.
NV companions soon disappeared
around the bend and my thoughts fol-
lowed in their wake. 1t would take
them about four days to descend the
Kuluseo to the point where it was
Joined by the Kuluene. This was the
meeting place agreed upon. How long
was it going to take me to get there
from the direction of the Kuluene?
I didn't hazard a guess but without
further delay turned my back on the
scene and with a pack of Indians at
heel set out on Fawcett's trail.
The understanding arrived at with
Aloique and CabuZala was that we
should proceed without delay to the
Kuluene River. We certainly made
Splendid start. The Indians were go
ing home to their nalocas and we
made good time in consequence. With
an two and a half hours we were seated
inside the cool and spacious house Of
CabuZala ready to continue.
Although Joao Climaco and myself
were ready. it was not so with our
Indian friends. We endeavored to
hasten matters by presenting the re-
wards promised, such as axes, knives
and ornaments But still there was
much hesitating and talking on their
part. We eventually got to the bottom
of the trouble. There was to be some
special ceremonial dancing that eve
ring at which every one wanted to be
present.
When an Indian wants to do thing
nothing will stop him, unless you can
suggest something else that makes a
stronger appeal to his savage heart:
Obviously there was no counter attrac-
ton We could offer that would in any
uFa
TO the inevitable
I was not altogether sorry about the
delay, as another day with the Indians
would prove intensely interesting, but
my companion was annoyed that We
could not advance Immediately. For
one thing, our only food consisted of
a small sack of dry farina mixed up
with some still drier meat. and the
prospect Of living on this for day
longer than was necessary was not
pleasant.
Visits Family Over Trunk.
My thoughts kept on turning to
that metal trunk I had seen in
AloiQue's house. This seemed the very
opportunity to find out its history,
so / sauntered over and made myself
at home with the family. l noticed
that alongside the box were a couple
of very large baskets containing farinha
I commented upon their size, etc. and
then appearing to notice the tin box
for the first time, I pointed to it and
indicated how nice it was
I asked Aloique where he got it ano
was told after a little hesitation that
sne of the tall caraibas had given il
to him for carrying it to the Kuluene
River full of farinha. Aloiques man.
ner warned me not to accept this story
at its face value. longed to lift the
lid for further enlightenment. Had
been able to do so 1 am sure the con-
senUs would have suggested very diff
ferent tale.