I showed them the different flowers and insects I had gathered during the day.  This, doubtless, induced them to look upon me as a learned person, and, as such, to impute to me a knowledge of medicine.  They begged me to prescribe for different cases of illness:  bad ears, eruptions of the skin, and in the children, a considerable tendency to scrofula, etc.  I ordered lukewarm baths, frequent fomentations, and the use of oil and soap, applied externally and rubbed into the body.  May Heaven grant that these remedies have really worked some good!

On the 11th of October, I proceeded into the forest, in company with a negress and a Puri, to find out the Indians.  At times, we had to work our way laboriously through the thicket, and then again we would find narrow paths, by which we pursued our journey with greater ease.  After eight hours’ walking, we came upon a number of Puris, who led us into their huts, situated in the immediate vicinity, where I beheld a picture of the greatest misery and want:  I had often met with a great deal of wretchedness in my travels, but never so much as I saw here!

On a small space, under lofty trees, five huts, or rather sheds, formed of leaves, were erected, eighteen feet long, by twelve feet broad.  The frames were formed of four poles stuck in the ground, with another reaching across; and the roof, of palm-leaves, through which the rain could penetrate with the utmost facility.  On three sides, these bowers were entirely open.  In the interior hung a hammock or two; and on the ground glimmered a little fire, under a heap of ashes, in which a few roots, Indian corn, and bananas, were roasting.  In one corner, under the roof, a small supply of provisions was hoarded up, and a few gourds were scattered around:  these are used by the savages instead of plates, pots, water-jugs, etc.  The long bows and arrows, which constitute their only weapons, were leaning in the background against the wall.

I found the Indians still more ugly than the negroes.  Their complexion is a light bronze, stunted in stature, well-knit, and about the middle size.  They have broad and somewhat compressed features, and thick, coal-black hair, hanging straight down, which the women sometimes wear in plaits fastened to the back of the head, and sometimes falling down loose about them.  Their forehead is broad and low, the nose somewhat flattened, the eyes long and narrow, almost like those of the Chinese, and the mouth large, with rather thick lips.  To give a still greater effect to all these various charms, a peculiar look of stupidity is spread over the whole face, and is more especially to be attributed to the way in which their mouths are always kept opened.

Most of them, both men and women, were tattooed with a reddish or blue colour, though only round the mouth, in the form of a moustache.  Both sexes are passionately fond of smoking, and prefer brandy to everything.  Their dress was composed of a few rags, which they had fastened round their loins.