g the mountains to the westward
of the town. In the same mysterious region was a peak, whose interior
was a mass of fire that had burned from a date too remote to be known
even in the legends of the wild people. There was a lake also, whose
waters were so clear that a boat floating over them seemed suspended in
mid air.

This wonderful section was claimed by King Haffgo, who would permit
none but his subjects and the two white men to visit it. A party of
Aryks; presuming upon the friendly relations just established with
their masters, ventured to make their way to the enchanted place
without permission or knowledge of the Murhapas.

Before they could get away, they were discovered by some of the
lookouts, and every one slain with dreadful torture. The lesson was
not lost upon their surviving friends, who never again ventured to
repeat the experiment.

The Murhapas were the first to use the spears with the deadly points.
They not only taught the Aryks how to prepare the poison from the venom
of several species of serpents and noxious vegetables, but imparted to
them the remedy,--a decoction of such marvellous power, that a single
swallow would instantly neutralize the effect of any wound received
from the dreaded missiles.

Among the tribes named, there was no knowledge of the use of iron
though the ore is abundant in that region. The only objects composed
of the metal were the firearms of the white men, and the natives could
not comprehend how they were fashioned from the substance which
underwent such a change from its native state.

Every implement used by this people is made from stone, which however
seems almost the equal of iron and steel. Spear points, axes and
cutting tools are shaped with remarkably keen edges, with which trees
are readily felled, and cut into any form desired.

Shells are used in the formation of knives, while the teeth of certain
fish, taken from the Xingu, enables them to construct still more
delicate implements for cutting and carving.

Indian corn, cotton and tobacco are raised from a soil whose fertility
cannot be surpassed, though strangely enough the tribes have no
knowledge of the banana, sugar cane and rice, which belong so
essentially to the torrid zones. Dogs and fowls are entirely unknown,
and there is no conception of a God, though all have a firm belief that
they will live again after death. A myth has existed among them from
time immemorial of the creation of the