e--several miles in
breadth at this place. Here it was studded with islands, known to be a
favourite resort of the tapirs. This was to be the scene of our hunt.

"We approached the place in about an hour; but on the way I could not
help being struck with the picturesqueness of our party. No `meet' in
the hunting-field of civilised countries could have equalled us in that
respect. The ubas, strung out in a long irregular line, sprang
up-stream in obedience to the vigorous strokes of the rowers, and these
sang in a sort of irregular concert as they plied their paddles. The
songs were improvised: they told the feats of the hunters already
performed, and promised others yet to be done. I could hear the word
`tapira' (tapir), often repeated. The women lent their shrill voices to
the chorus; and now and then interrupted the song with peals of merry
laughter. The strange-looking flotilla--the bronzed bodies of the
Indians, more than half nude--their waving black hair--their blue-head
belts and red cotton armlets--the bright _tangas_ (aprons) of the
women--their massive necklaces--the macaw feathers adorning the heads of
the hunters--their odd arms and equipments--all combined to form a
picture which, even to me, accustomed to such sights, was full of
interest.

"At length we arrived among the islands, and then the noises ceased.
The canoes were paddled as slowly and silently as possible.

"I now began to understand the plan of the hunt. It was first to
discover an island upon which a tapir was supposed to be, and then
encompass it with the hunters in their canoes, while a party landed with
the dogs, to arouse the game and drive it toward the water.

"This plan promised fair sport.

"The canoes now separated; and in a short while each of them were seen
coursing quietly along the edge of some islet, one of its occupants
leaning inward, and scrutinising the narrow belt of sand that bordered
the water.

"In some places no such sand-belt appeared. The trees hung over, their
branches even dipping into the current, and forming a roofed and dark
passage underneath. In such places a tapir could have hidden himself
from the sharpest-eyed hunters, and herein lies the chief difficulty of
this kind of hunt.

"It was not long before a low whistle was heard from one of the ubas, a
sign for the others to come up. The traces of a tapir had been
discovered.

"The chief, with a stroke or two of his palm-wood paddle, brought