the result of the expedition; but that they bade
the strangers welcome.

"Alas!" said Manco, "we are, I fear, the bearers of evil tidings. Had
the cacique escaped, he would have returned ere this."

We proceeded on, and in a space cleared of trees, we found a collection
of low buildings. The walls were constructed of reeds, the interstices
being filled up with loam; and the roofs were covered with palm leaves.
On one side of the house was a coffee plantation, and on the other some
fields of maize, with fruit-trees growing round them. At a little
distance, on some marshy ground, was a field of sugar-canes; and by the
side of a brook a row of the useful banana. The poor woman came out to
receive us as we approached. Her first inquiries were for her husband.
Manco had seen him and all his people cut to pieces. She did not faint
or shriek out, but retired into an inner room, sat herself down on the
ground, surrounded by her women, and groaned bitterly all the night
long. We did not see her again; but after a time one of her females
came out and set food before us. Our Indian companions found shelter in
some of the huts of the village; and one belonging to the farm was given
up to Ned, Pedro, and me. We had Indian corn bread, and cakes made of
the juice of the sugar-cane, called _chancacas_; potatoes, bananas,
oranges, and pine-apples, and several varieties of dried meat; with a
liquor also made from the sugar-cane, called _guarapo_: indeed we had no
cause to complain of any want of provisions. As we were safe here from
all risk of pursuit, Manco proposed to remain for some days, that we
might recruit our strength before prosecuting our journey.

The cacique had been accustomed to increase his wealth by buying from
the wilder tribes the celebrated Peruvian bark. In the month of May, a
number of Indians set out together, some of whom, of greatest
experience, who are called _cateadores_, or searchers, climb the highest
trees to spy out the _manchas_, or spots where the _chinchona_ groups
are growing, distinguishing them merely by a slight difference in the
tints from the dark-green of the surrounding foliage. When the
_cateador_ has discovered a group, he leads his companions to it with
wonderful precision through the almost impenetrable forest; a hut is
built, the trees are felled, and incisions are made in the bark, and
after a few days, as it dries, it is stripped off and placed in the huts
to dry still more.