They nodded, and going to one of the canoes a man
brought from it a paste of a brown colour and aromatic smell. Then by
signs he directed me to remove such garments as remained on me, the
fashion of which seemed to puzzle them greatly. This being done, they
proceeded to anoint my body with the paste, the touch of which gave me
a most blessed relief from my intolerable itching and burning, and
moreover rendered my flesh distasteful to the insects, for after that
they plagued me little.
When I was anointed they offered me food, fried fish and cakes of
meal, together with a most delicious hot drink covered with a brown and
foaming froth that I learned to know afterwards as chocolate. When I
had finished eating, having talked a while together in low tones, they
motioned me to enter one of the canoes, giving me mats to lie on. I
obeyed, and three other men came with me, for the canoe was large. One
of these, a very grave man with a gentle face and manner whom I took
to be the chief of the party, sat down opposite to me, the other two
placing themselves in the bow and stern of the boat which they drove
along by means of paddles. Then we started, followed by three other
canoes, and before we had gone a mile utter weariness overpowered me and
I fell asleep.
I awoke much refreshed, having slept many hours, for now the sun was
setting, and was astonished to find the grave-looking man my companion
in the canoe, keeping watch over my sleep and warding the gnats from me
with a leafy branch.
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