The colonel and Pepe Garcia were still more easily persuaded than Mr. Marcoy, and only awaited his adhesion.  When it was finally announced the Siriniris renewed their gambols and uttered shouts of delight.  They then took the head of the excursion.  A singularity in their guides, which quickly attracted the notice of the explorers, was the perfect indifference with which they took either the clearings or the thickets in their path.  Where the strangers were afraid of tearing their garments, these unprotected savages had no care whatever for their skins.  It is true that their ingenuity in gliding through the labyrinth resembled magic.  However the forest might bristle with undergrowth, they never thought of breaking down obstacles or of cutting them, as the equally practiced Bolivians did, with a knife.  They contented themselves with putting aside with one hand the tufts of foliage as if they had been curtains or draperies, and that with an easy decision of gesture and an elegance of attitude which are hardly found outside of certain natural tribes.

The city of Huatinmio proved to be a group of seven large sheds perched among plaintains and bananas, divided into stalls, and affording shelter for a hundred individuals.  The most sordid destitution—­if ignorance of comfort can be called destitution—­reigned everywhere around.  The women were especially hideous, and on receipt of presents of small bells and large needles became additionally disagreeable in their antics of gratitude.  The bells were quickly inserted in their ears, and soon the whole village was in tintinnabulation.

A night was passed in the hospitality of these barbarians, who vacated their largest cabin for their guests.  A repast was served, consisting of stewed monkey:  no salt was used in the cookery, but on the other hand a dose of pimento was thrown in, which brought tears to the eyes of the strangers and made them run to the water-jar as if to save their lives.  The evening was spent in a general conversation with the Siriniris, who were completely mystified by the form and properties of a candle which Mr. Marcoy drew from his baggage and ignited.  The wild men passed it from hand to hand, examining it, and singeing themselves in turn.  Still another marvel was the sheet of paper on which the artist essayed a portrait of one of his hosts.  The finished sketch did not appear to attract them at all, or to raise in their minds the faintest association with the human form, but the texture and whiteness of the sheet excited their lively admiration, and they passed it from one to another with many exclamations of wonder.  Meantime, a number of questions were suggested and proposed through the interpreter.