EXPLORERS RETURN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 13

EXPLORERS RETURN

Indians Kill

Companion

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil), September 16. Two young British explorers returned from the Amazon jungles yesterday with the body of a companion brutally killed by Indians 11 days ago. the Associated Press reported. Associates said arrows shot by the Indian nomads killed Richard Mason, a London medical student, who was a member of a party mapping the Amazon river. Mason had strayed away in search of supplies. Christopher Lambert and John Hemming, who brought the body out in a Brazilian Air Force aircraft, said there had been no indication of Indians in the area. Both appeared reluctant to talk about the incident except to say that they had written to Mason’s mother, A.P. said. A paratrooper who took part in the expedition said a group of about five Caiapos Indians apparently clubed Mason before shooting arrows into his body. He said Mason had a revolver and that the Indians took it, although unaware of what it was. He described the tribe as extremely dangerous, because of their fright of anyone except their own tribal members. Hie paratrooper said he believed Mason was the first white man they had seen. Mason will be buried in a British cemetery in Rio de Janeiro.