o write a book for the stay…at…homes to read； I could easily invent a thousand lies far more entertaining than any real experiences。 He had come to me； he said； to propose something。 He had lived twenty years at that place； and had got accustomed to the climate； but it would not do for me to remain any longer if I wished to live。 I must go away at once to a different countryto the mountains； where it was open and dry。 〃And if you want quinine when you are there；〃 he concluded； 〃smell the wind when it blows from the south…west； and you will inhale it into your system； fresh from the forest。〃 When I remarked despondingly that in my condition it would be impossible to quit Manapuri； he went on to say that a small party of Indians was now in the settlement； that they had come； not only to trade； but to visit one of their own tribe； who was his wife； purchased some years ago from her father。 〃And the money she cost me I have never regretted to this day；〃 said he； 〃for she is a good wife not jealous；〃 he added； with a curse on all the others。 These Indians came all the way from the Queneveta mountains； and were of the Maquiritari tribe。 He； Panta； and； better still； his good wife would interest them on my behalf； and for a suitable reward they would take me by slow； easy stages to their own country； where I would be treated well and recover my health。
This proposal； after I had considered it well； produced so good an effect on me that I not only gave a glad consent； but； on the following day； I was able to get about and begin the preparations for my journey with some spirit。
In about eight days I bade good…bye to my generous friend Panta； whom I regarded； after having seen much of him； as a kind of savage beast that had sprung on me； not to rend； but to rescue from death； for we know that even cruel savage brutes and evil men have at times sweet； beneficent impulses； during which they act in a way contrary to their natures； like passive agents of some higher power。 It was a continual pain to travel in my weak condition； and the patience of my Indians was severely taxed； but they did not forsake me； and at last the entire distance； which I conjectured to be about sixty…five leagues； was accomplished； and at the end I was actually stronger and better in every way than at the start。 From this time my progress towards complete recovery was rapid。 The air； with or without any medicinal virtue blown from the cinchona trees in the far…off Andean forest； was tonic； and when I took my walks on the hillside above the Indian village； or later when able to climb to the summits； the world as seen from those wild Queneveta mountains had a largeness and varied glory of scenery peculiarly refreshing and delightful to the soul。
With the Maquiritari tribe I passed some weeks； and the sweet sensations of returning health made me happy for a time； but such sensations seldom outlast convalescence。 I was no sooner well again than I began to feel a restless spirit stirring in me。 The monotony of savage life in this place became intolerable。 After my long listless period the reaction had come； and I wished only for action； adventureno matter how dangerous； and for new scenes； new faces； new dialects。 In the end I conceived the idea of going on to the Casiquiare river； where I would find a few small settlements； and perhaps obtain help from the authorities there which would enable me to reach the Rio Negro。 For it was now in my mind to follow that river to the Amazons； and so down to Para and the Atlantic coast。
Leaving the Queneveta range； I started with two of the Indians as guides and travelling companions； but their journey ended only half…way to the river I wished to reach； and they left me with some friendly savages living on the Chunapay； a tributary of the Cunucumana； which flows to the Orinoco。 Here I had no choice but to wait until an opportunity of attaching myself to some party of travelling Indians going south…west should arrive； for by this time I had expended the whole of my small capital in ornaments and calico brought from Manapuri； so that I could no longer purchase any man's service。 And perhaps it will be as well to state at this point just what I possessed。 For some time I had worn nothing but sandals to protect my feet； my garments consisted of a single suit； and one flannel shirt； which I washed frequently； going shirtless while it was drying。 Fortunately I had an excellent blue cloth cloak； durable and handsome； given to me by a friend at Angostura； whose prophecy on presenting it； that it would outlast ME； very nearly came true。 It served as a covering by night； and to keep a man warm and comfortable when travelling in cold and wet weather no better garment was ever made。 I had a revolver and metal cartridge…box in my broad leather belt； also a good hunting…knife with strong buckhorn handle and a heavy blade about nine inches long。 In the pocket of my cloak I had a pretty silver tinder…box； and a match…boxto be mentioned again in this narrative
and one or two other trifling objects； these I was determined to keep until they could be kept no longer。
During the tedious interval of waiting on the Chunapay I was told a flattering tale by the village Indians； which eventually caused me to abandon the proposed journey to the Rio Negro。 These Indians wore necklets； like nearly all the Guayana savages； but one； I observed； possessed a necklet unlike that of the others； which greatly aroused my curiosity。 It was made of thirteen gold plates； irregular in form； about as broad as a man's thumb…nail； and linked together with fibres。 I was allowed to examine it； and had no doubt that the pieces were of pure gold； beaten flat by the savages。 When questioned about it； they said it was originally obtained from the Indians of Parahuari； and Parahuari； they further said； was a mountainous country west of the Orinoco。 Every man and woman in that place； they assured me； had such a necklet。 This report inflamed my mind to such a degree that I could not rest by night or day for dreaming golden dreams； and considering how to get to that rich district； unknown to civilized men。 The Indians gravely shook their heads when I tried to persuade them to take me。 They were far enough from the Orinoco； and Parahuari was ten； perhaps fifteen； days' journey further ona country unknown to them； where they had no relations。
In spite of difficulties and delays； however； and not without pain and some perilous adventures； I succeeded at last in reaching the upper Orinoco； and； eventually； in crossing to the other side。 With my life in my hand I struggled on westward through an unknown difficult country； from Indian village to village； where at any moment I might have been murdered with impunity for the sake of my few belongings。 It is hard for me to speak a good word for the Guayana savages； but I must now say this of them； that they not only did me no harm when I was at their mercy during this long journey； but they gave me shelter in their villages； and fed me when I was hungry； and helped me on my way when I could make no return。 You must not； however； run away with the idea that there is any sweetness in their disposition； any humane or benevolent instincts such as are found among the civilized nations： far from it。 I regard them now； and； fortunately for me； I regarded them then； when； as I have said； I was at their mercy； as beasts of prey； plus a cunning or low kind of intelligence vastly greater than that of the brute； and； for only morality； that respect for the rights of other members of the same family； or tribe； without which even the rudest communities cannot hold together。 How； then； could I do this thing； and dwell and travel freely； without receiving harm； among tribes that have no peace with and no kindly feelings towards the stranger； in a district where the white man is rarely or never seen？ Because I knew them so well。 Without that knowledge； always available； and an extreme facility in acquiring new dialects； which had increased by practice until it was almost like intuition； I should have fared badly after leaving the Maquiritari tribe。 As it was； I had two or three very narrow escapes。
To return from this digression。 I looked at last on the famous Parahuari mountains； which； I was greatly surprised to find； were after all nothing but hills； and not very high ones。 This； however； did not impress me。 The very fact that Parahuari possessed no imposing feature in its scenery seemed rather to prove that it must be rich in gold： how else could its name and the fame of its treasures be familiar to people dwelling so far away as the Cunucumana？
But there was no gold。 I searched through the whole range； which was about seven leagues long； and visited the villages； where I talked much with the Indians； interrogating them； and they had no necklets of gold； nor gold in any form； nor had they ever heard of its presence in Parahuari or in any other place known to them。
The very last village where I spoke on the subject of my quest； albeit now without hope； was about a league from the western extremity of the range； in the midst of a high broken country of forest and savannah and many swift streams； near one of these； called the Curicay； the village stood； among low scattered trees… …a large building； in which all the people； numbering eighteen； passed most of their time when not hunting； with two smaller buildings attached to it。 The head； or chief； Runi by name； was about fifty years old； a taciturn； finely formed； and somewhat dignified savage； who was either of a sullen disposition or not well pleased at the intrusion of a white man。 And for a time I made no attempt to conciliate him。 What profit was there in it at all？ Even that light mask； which I had worn so long and with such good effect； incommoded me now： I would cast it aside and be myselfsilent and sullen as my barbarous host。 If any malignant purpose was taking form in his mind； let it； and let him do his worst； for when failure first stares a man in the face； it has so dark and repellent a look that not anything that can be added can make him more miserable； nor has he any apprehension。 For weeks I had been searching with eager； feverish