set to work to pluck the birds we had killed, and they were quickly
roasting, spitted between forked sticks, before the fire. While we were
engaged in preparing dinner we caught sight of several persons coming
along the banks of the river. Isoro led the way; six natives followed.
They were clad in somewhat scanty garments--a sort of kilt of matting,
ornamented with feathers, round their waists, their cheeks and body
painted with red and yellow. They were, however, pleasant-looking men.
They had quivers at their backs, and long tubes, which I soon found to
be blow-pipes, in their hands. True at first evidently did not approve
of their presence, and went growling about, showing his teeth; but when
he saw us treat them as friends, he became quiet, and went and lay down
at the entrance to Ellen's room, eyeing them, however, as if not quite
satisfied about the matter.

Isoro introduced the tallest of the party, whose kilt was rather more
ornamented than those of his companions, as their chief--Naro by name.
He had agreed to build us a couple of canoes, of sufficient size to
convey us down the more dangerous parts of the river. After this we
were to proceed in one, while he and his men returned in the other. We
were to repay him with a dozen yards of cloth, a couple of knives, some
beads, and other articles.

As soon as we had finished our roasted toucans and parrots, we set forth
with our new allies in search of suitable trees for the shells of the
boats. We hunted about for some time before they could fix on one. At
length they pointed out one about fifteen feet in circumference. Some
of the bark being cut off. I saw that the wood was of a yellow colour,
and of a soft nature, which could be easily worked. The Indians,
however, shook their heads, declaring that though the wood was good for
a canoe, the tree was too large to be cut down. Isoro, in answer, told
them that if they could make a canoe out of it, he would undertake to
fell it. He soon showed his countrymen that he would make his words
good, and wielding his sharp axe, he quickly cut a deep notch in the
tree. Naro now seemed satisfied. While some of the party hewed at the
trunk, others climbed the neighbouring trees to cut away the festoons of
sipos and other creepers which might impede its fall. A road also had
to be cleared to the river for the distance of nearly a quarter of a
mile. All hands assisted in this work, and by evening we had made
con