“One evening, as the red sun pierced the trees and bathed the sluggish river in its rosy light, we rounded a wide bend thereof, and came suddenly in view of a great Trauco village. We could see hundreds of hairy forms moving to and fro, and children running races along the banks.
“At once the little ones on the rafts sprang up and began to clap their furry hands, while their large soft eyes were suffused with happiness, and they showed their white teeth in broad grins. The racing children on the river’s bank at once came to a standstill, and then rushed crowding down to the water’s edge. At the same time a large number of Traucos hurried forward apparently to welcome the new-comers, judging by the smiles and loud cooings that took place. As their eyes fell upon myself and my father, they dilated with wonder and curiosity, and when the rafts touched the shore and we landed, the crowd which collected around us became quite dense.
“They smoothed us, and patted us, and offered us fruit, the like of which we had never seen before. These fruits were like a lot of round balls of a rich, dark purple colour, luscious, sweet, and refreshing. They had no stones or pips in them, and clustered together in great bunches on the same stalk. I afterwards saw a similar kind of fruit growing in profusion in a big open plain, only this latter was of a pale, transparent green.”
“Monster grapes!” ejaculated Harry. “Wouldn’t you like to be amongst them, Mary?”
“Of course I should, and so would you, you greedy boy,” laughed the girl archly.
“Come now, don’t interrupt Piñone,” said Lady Vane reprovingly. “This account is really most strange and wonderful.”
“At length,” continued the Cacique, “the crowd separated, and made way apparently for some one. It was the big woman whom I have spoken of. She was a very fine specimen, tall as the tallest of the men, with graceful, well-formed limbs, splendidly proportioned, and evidently possessed of immense strength. Her eyes were magnificent, and she had the most perfect row of teeth which I ever beheld. Her word appeared to be implicitly obeyed, or, I should rather say, her gestures; for, as I have already remarked, these people do not talk.
“She advanced towards us, and coming between us, gave each of us a hand, and in this manner led us up towards the village which stood not far away. Then more Traucos trooped up to stare, but she waved them off, and motioned to us to enter a large roomy hut, capable of holding some twenty people with ease. It was like a tolderia, only entirely covered in with boughs and leaves instead of skins. On the ground was stretched some splendid jaguar and puma furs fastened by gold pegs into the earth, and in the corner lay heaps of the soft, furry vicuña skins, to be used as we surmised, for couches. As we entered, the Trauco queen gave a sharp, shrill whistle, and immediately a number of Traucos came running up to the hut. Moving her hands in quick gestures she cooed loudly, whereupon they hastened away, returning shortly afterwards with a bundle of dry moss, some sticks, several logs of wood, and some meat. We watched them curiously, and were surprised to see them set the moss, sticks, and wood as if for lighting, and cluster round the whole erection in a circle. Suddenly we heard two or three sharp clicks, then smoke began to arise. In a few minutes the moss flared up, ignited the sticks, and soon a cheery blaze burst forth. The Trauco retired, and the furry queen looked at us triumphantly from out her large dark eyes.
“We took advantage of this fire to cook the meat which the fire lighters had left lying beside it, and when it was sufficiently roasted, drew forth our knives and began to cut it up. At the sight of these knives the queen cooed loudly, and came close up to examine them, her eyes dilating with wonder and astonishment. Feeling in a slit or pocket in the fur chiripa which surrounded her loins, she drew forth a gold-bladed knife, set strongly in a piece of very black wood, and held it up for us to look at. I reached forward and laid my own against hers, an act which pleased her greatly, for she laughed pleasantly, and showed her beautiful teeth. After this she watched us eat our meat, and then sent for fruit, which was piled up outside our hut.
“As the sun went down every Trauco made for the huts, dived into them, and for the night were seen no more. Our furry queen motioned to us to enter the one assigned for our use, while she disappeared into an adjoining one of her own. It was clear that after sunset we were not to be permitted liberty outside these huts, for on I and Cuastral going out to look around, several Traucos thrust their heads out of some small huts which surrounded the queen’s residence, and made vigorous signs to us to re-enter our own at once, an order which we reluctantly obeyed.