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diff --git a/24814.txt b/24814.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d675f17 --- /dev/null +++ b/24814.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9043 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Forest Exiles, by Mayne Reid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Forest Exiles + The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Illustrator: H. Weir + +Release Date: March 12, 2008 [EBook #24814] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOREST EXILES *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Forest Exiles, by Captain Mayne Reid. + +________________________________________________________________________ +Thinly disguised as a book about the fortunes of a family of exiles in +the forests of Peru, this is actually a very well-written book about the +natural history of the region. Its style makes it eminently readable, +and even today anyone reading it will be amused and interested. + +The story is supposed to have taken place in the early part of the +nineteenth century. + +There are a good many Spanish and native Indian words, but this does not +affect the readability of the various chapters, each of which deals with +some aspect of the natural history of the region. It makes a good +audiobook. + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE FOREST EXILES, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE BIGGEST WOOD IN THE WORLD. + +Boy reader, I am told that you are not tired of my company. Is this +true? + +"Quite true, dear Captain,--quite true!" That is your reply. You speak +sincerely? I believe you do. + +In return, believe _me_, when I tell you I am not tired of yours; and +the best proof I can give is, that I have come once more to seek you. I +have come to solicit the pleasure of your company,--not to an evening +party, nor to a ball, nor to the Grand Opera, nor to the Crystal Palace, +nor yet to the Zoological Gardens of Regent's Park,--no, but to the +great zoological garden of Nature. I have come to ask you to accompany +me on another "campaign,"--another "grand journey" through the fields of +Science and Adventure. Will you go? + +"Most willingly--with you, dear Captain, anywhere." + +Come with me, then. + +Again we turn our faces westward; again we cross the blue and billowy +Atlantic; again we seek the shores of the noble continent of America. + +"What! to America again?" + +Ha! that is a large continent, and you need not fear that I am going to +take you over old ground. No, fear not that! New scenes await us; a +new _fauna_, a new _flora_,--I might almost say, a new earth and a new +sky! + +You shall have variety, I promise you,--a perfect contrast to the scenes +of our last journey. + +Then, you remember, we turned our faces to the cold and icy North,--now +our path lies through the hot and sunny South. Then we lived in a +log-hut, and closed every cranny to keep out the cold,--now, in our +cottage of palms and cane, we shall be but too glad to let the breeze +play through the open walls. Then we wrapped our bodies in thick +furs,--now we shall be content with the lightest garments. Then we were +bitten by the frost,--now we shall be bitten by sand-flies, and +mosquitoes, and bats, and snakes, and scorpions, and spiders, and stung +by wasps, and centipedes, and great red ants! Trust me, you shall have +a change! + +Perhaps you do not contemplate _such_ a change with any very lively +feelings of pleasure. Come! do not be alarmed at the snakes, and +scorpions, and centipedes! We shall find a cure for every bite--an +antidote for every bane. + +Our new journey shall have its pleasures and advantages. Remember how +of old we shivered as we slept, coiled up in the corner of our dark +log-hut and smothered in skins,--now we shall swing lightly in our +netted hammocks under the gossamer leaves of the palm-tree, or the +feathery frondage of the ferns. Then we gazed upon leaden skies, and at +night looked upon the cold constellation of the Northern Bear;--now, we +shall have over us an azure canopy, and shall nightly behold the +sparkling glories of the Southern Cross, still shining as bright as when +Paul and his little Virginie with loving eyes gazed upon it from their +island home. In our last journey we toiled over bleak and barren +wastes, across frozen lakes, and marshes, and rivers;--now we shall pass +under the shadows of virgin forests, and float lightly upon the bosom of +broad majestic streams, whose shores echo with the voices of living +nature. + +Hitherto our travels have been upon the wide, open prairie, the +trackless plain of sand, the frozen lake, the thin scattering woods of +the North, or the treeless snow-clad "Barrens." Now we are about to +enter a great forest,--a forest where the leaves never fade, where the +flowers are always in bloom,--a forest where the woodman's axe has not +yet echoed, where the colonist has hardly hewed out a single clearing,-- +a vast primeval forest,--the largest in the world. + +How large, do you ask? I can hardly tell you. Are you thinking of +Epping, or the New Forest? True, these are large woods, and have been +larger at one time. But if you draw your ideas of a great forest from +either of these you must prepare yourself for a startling announcement-- +and that is, that the forest through which I am going to take you is _as +big as all Europe_! There is one place where a straight line might be +drawn across this forest that would measure the enormous length of two +thousand six hundred miles! And there is a point in it from which a +circle might be described, with a diameter of more than a thousand +miles, and the whole area included within this vast circumference would +be found covered with an unbroken forest! + +I need scarce tell you what forest I allude to, for there is none other +in the world of such dimensions--none to compare with that vast, +trackless forest that covers the valley of the mighty Amazon! + +And what shall we see in travelling through this tree-covered expanse? +Many a strange form of life--both vegetable and animal. We shall see +the giant "ceiba" tree, and the "zamang," and the "caoba," twined by +huge parasites almost as thick as their own trunks, and looking as +though they embraced but to crush them; the "juvia," with its +globe-shaped fruits as large as the human head; the "cow-tree," with its +abundant fountains of rich milk; the "seringa," with its valuable gum-- +the caoutchouc of commerce; the "cinchona," with its fever-killing bark; +the curious "volador," with its winged seeds; the wild indigo, and the +arnatto. We shall see palms of many species--some with trunks smooth +and cylindrical, others covered with thorns, sharp and thickly set--some +with broad entire leaves, others with fronds pinnate and feathery, and +still others whose leaves are of the shape of a fan--some rising like +naked columns to the height of an hundred and fifty feet, while others +scarcely attain to the standard of an ordinary man. + +On the water we shall see beautiful lilies--the snow-white _nymphs_, and +the yellow _nuphars_. We shall see the _Victoria regia_ covering the +pool with its massive wax-like flowers, and huge circular leaves of +bronze green. We shall see tall flags like Saracen spears, and the dark +green culms of gigantic rushes, and the golden _arundinaria_--the +bamboo, and "cana brava,"--that rival the forest trees in height. + +Many a form of animal life we may behold. Basking in the sun, we may +behold the yellow and spotted body of the jaguar--a beautiful but +dreaded sight. Breaking through the thick underwood, or emerging slowly +from the water, we may catch a glimpse of the sombre tapir, or the +red-brown capivara. We may see the ocelot skulking through the deep +shade, or the margay springing upon its winged prey. We may see the +shaggy ant-bear tearing at the cones of sand-clay, and licking up the +white termites; or we may behold the scaly armadillo crawling over the +sun-parched earth, and rolling itself up at the approach of danger. We +may see human-like forms,--the _quadrumana_--clinging among the high +branches, and leaping from tree to tree, like birds upon the wing; we +may see them of many shapes, sizes, and colours, from the great howling +monkeys, with their long prehensile tails, down to the little saimiris +and ouistitis not larger than squirrels. + +What beautiful birds, too!--for this forest is their favourite home. +Upon the ground, the large curassows, and guans, and the "gallo," with +his plumage of bright red. Upon the trees, the macaws, and parrots, and +toucans, and trogons. In the waters, the scarlet flamingoes, the +ibises, and the tall herons; and in the air, the hawks, the zamuros, the +king-vultures, and the eagles. + +We shall see much of the reptile world, both by land and water. Basking +upon the bank, or floating along the stream, we may behold the great +water lizards--the crocodile and caiman; or the unwieldy forms of the +_cheloniae_--the turtles. Nimbly running along the tree-trunk, or up +the slanting lliana, we may see the crested iguana, hideous to behold. +On the branches that overhang the silent pool we may see the +"water-boa," of huge dimensions, watching for his prey--the peccary, the +capivara, the paca, or the agouti; and in the dry forest we may meet +with his congener the "stag-swallower," twined around a tree, and +waiting for the roebuck or the little red-deer of the woods. + +We may see the mygale, or bird-catching spider, at the end of his strong +net-trap, among the thick foliage; and the tarantula, at the bottom of +his dark pitfall, constructed in the ground. We may see the tent-like +hills of the white ants, raised high above the surface, and the nests of +many other kinds, hanging from high branches, and looking as though they +had been constructed out of raw silk and pasteboard. We may see trees +covered with these nests, and some with the nests of wasps, and still +others with those of troupials and orioles--birds of the genus _icterus_ +and _cassicus_--hanging down like long cylindrical purses. + +All these, and many more strange sights, may be seen in the great forest +of the Amazon valley; and some of them we shall see--_voila_! + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE REFUGEES. + +Upon a bright and lovely evening, many years ago, a party of travellers +might have been seen climbing up that Cordillera of the Andes that lies +to the eastward of the ancient city of Cuzco. It was a small and +somewhat singular party of travellers; in fact, a travelling family,-- +father, mother, children, and one attendant. We shall say a word of +each of them separately. + +The chief of the party was a tall and handsome man, of nearly forty +years of age. His countenance bespoke him of Spanish race, and so he +was. He was not a Spaniard, however, but a Spanish-American, or +"Creole," for so Spaniards born in America are called to distinguish +them from the natives of Old Spain. + +Remember--Creoles are _not_ people with negro or African blood in their +veins. There is a misconception on this head in England, and elsewhere. +The African races of America are either negroes, mulattoes, quadroons, +quinteroons, or mestizoes; but the "Creoles" are of European blood, +though born in America. Remember this. Don Pablo Romero--for that was +the name of our traveller--was a Creole, a native of Cuzco, which, as +you know, was the ancient capital of the Incas of Peru. + +Don Pablo, as already stated, was nearly forty years of age. Perhaps he +looked older. His life had not been spent in idleness. Much study, +combined with a good deal of suffering and care, had made many of those +lines that rob the face of its youthful appearance. Still, although his +look was serious, and just then sad, his eye was occasionally seen to +brighten, and his light elastic step showed that he was full of vigour +and manhood. He had a moustache, very full and black, but his whiskers +were clean shaven, and his hair cut short, after the fashion of most +people in Spanish America. He wore velvet pantaloons, trimmed at the +bottoms with black stamped leather, and upon his feet were strong boots +of a reddish yellow colour--that is, the natural colour of the tanned +hide before it has been stained. A dark jacket, closely buttoned, +covered the upper part of his body, and a scarlet silk sash encircled +his waist, the long fringed ends hanging down over the left hip. In +this sash were stuck a Spanish knife and a pair of pistols, richly +ornamented with silver mountings. But all these things were concealed +from the view by a capacious poncho, which is a garment that in South +America serves as a cloak by day and a blanket by night. It is nearly +of the size and shape of an ordinary blanket, with a slit in the centre, +through which the head is passed, leaving the ends to hang down. +Instead of being of uniform colour, several bright colours are usually +woven into the poncho, forming a variety of patterns. In Mexico a very +similar garment--the scrape--is almost universally worn. The poncho of +Don Pablo was a costly one, woven by hand, and out of the finest wool of +the vicuna, for that is the native country of this useful and curious +animal. Such a poncho would cost 20 pounds, and would not only keep out +cold, but would turn rain like a "macintosh." Don Pablo's hat was also +curious and costly. It was one of those known as "Panama," or +"Guayaquil,"--hats so called because they are manufactured by Indian +tribes who dwell upon the Pacific coast, and are made out of a rare +sea-grass, which is found near the above-mentioned places. A good +Guayaquil hat will cost 20 pounds; and although, with its broad curling +brim and low crown, it looks not much better than Leghorn or even fine +straw, yet it is far superior to either, both as a protection against +rain, or, what is of more importance in southern countries, against a +hot tropical sun. The best of them will wear half a lifetime. Don +Pablo's "sombrero" was one of the very best and costliest; and this, +combined with the style of his other habiliments, betokened that the +wearer was one of the "ricos," or higher class of his country. + +The costume of his wife, who was a dark and very beautiful Spanish +woman, would have strengthened this idea. She wore a dress of black +silk with velvet bodice and sleeves, tastefully embroidered. A mantilla +of dark cloth covered her shoulders, and on her head was a low +broad-brimmed hat, similar to those usually worn by men, for a bonnet is +a thing unknown to the ladies of Spanish America. A single glance at +the Dona Isidora would have satisfied any one that she was a lady of +rank and refinement. + +There were two children, upon which, from time to time, she gazed +tenderly. They were her only ones. They were a boy and girl, nearly of +equal size and age. The boy was the elder, perhaps thirteen or more, a +handsome lad, with swarth face, coal-black eyes, and curly full-flowing +dark hair. The girl, too, who would be about twelve, was dark--that is +to say, brunette in complexion. Her eyes were large, round, and dreamy, +with long lashes that kept the sun from shining into them, and thus +deepened their expression. + +Perhaps there are no children in the world so beautiful as those of the +Spanish race. There is a smoothness of skin, a richness in colour, and +a noble "hidalgo" expression in their round black eyes that is rare in +other countries. Spanish women retain this expression to a good age. +The men lose it earlier, because, as I believe, they are oftener of +corrupted morals and habits; and these, long exercised, certainly stamp +their lines upon the face. Those which are mean, and low, and vicious, +produce a similar character of countenance, while those which are high, +and holy, and virtuous, give it an aspect of beauty and nobility. + +Of all beautiful Spanish children none could have been more beautiful +than our two little Creole Spaniards, Leon and Leona--for such were the +names of the brother and sister. + +There yet remains one to be described, ere we complete the account of +our travelling party. This one was a grown and tall man, quite as tall +as Don Pablo himself, but thinner and more angular in his outlines. His +coppery colour, his long straight black hair, his dark and wild piercing +eye, with his somewhat odd attire, told you at once he was of a +different race from any of the others. He was an Indian--a South +American Indian; and although a descendant from the noble race of the +Peruvian Incas, he was acting in the capacity of a servant or attendant +to Don Pablo and his family. There was a familiarity, however, between +the old Indian--for he was an old man--and Don Pablo, that bespoke the +existence of some tie of a stronger nature than that which exists +between master and servant. And such there was in reality. This Indian +had been one of the patriots who had rallied around Tupac Amaru in his +revolution against the Spaniards. He had been proscribed, captured, and +sentenced to death. He would have been executed, but for the +interference of Don Pablo, who had saved his life. Since then Guapo-- +such was the Indian's name--had remained not only the retainer, but the +firm and faithful friend, of his benefactor. + +Guapo's feet were sandalled. His legs were naked up to the knees, +showing many an old scar received from the cactus plants and the thorny +bushes of acacia, so common in the mountain-valleys of Peru. A +tunic-like skirt of woollen cloth,--that home-made sort called +"bayeta,"--was fastened around his waist, and reached down to the knees; +but the upper part of his body was quite bare, and you could see the +naked breast and arms, corded with strong muscles, and covered with a +skin of a dark copper colour. The upper part of his body was naked only +when the sun was hot. At other times Guapo wore a species of poncho +like his master, but that of the Indian was of common stuff--woven out +of the coarse wool of the llama. His head was bare. + +Guapo's features were thin, sharp, and intelligent. His eye was keen +and piercing; and the gait of the old man, as he strode along the rocky +path, told that it would be many years before he would show any signs of +feebleness or tottering. + +There were four animals that carried our travellers and their effects. +One was a horse ridden by the boy Leon. The second was a saddle mule, +on which rode Dona Isidora and Leona. The other two animals were not +mounted. They were beasts of burden, with "yerguas," or pack-saddles, +upon which were carried the few articles that belonged to the +travellers. They, were the camels of Peru--the far-famed llamas. Don +Pablo, with his faithful retainer, travelled afoot. + +You will wonder that one apparently so rich, and on so distant a +journey, was not provided with animals enough to carry his whole party. +Another horse at least, or a mule, might have been expected in the +cavalcade. It would not have been strange had Guapo only walked--as he +was the arriero, or driver, of the llamas--but to see Don Pablo afoot +and evidently tired, with neither horse nor mule to ride upon, was +something that required explanation. There was another fact that +required explanation. The countenance of Don Pablo wore an anxious +expression, as if some danger impended; so did that of the lady, and the +children were silent, with their little hearts full of fear. They knew +not _what_ danger, but they knew that their father and mother were in +trouble. The Indian, too, had a serious look; and at each angle of the +mountain road he and Don Pablo would turn around, and with anxious eyes +gaze back in the direction that led towards Cuzco. As yet they could +distinguish the spires of the distant city, and the Catholic crosses, as +they glistened under the evening sunbeam. Why did they look back with +fear and distrust? Why? _Because Don Pablo was in flight, and feared +pursuers_! What? Had he committed some great crime? No. On the +contrary, he was the _victim of a noble virtue_--the virtue of +patriotism! For that had he been condemned, and was now in flight-- +flying to save not only his liberty but his life! yes, _his life_; for +had the sentinels on those distant towers but recognised him, he would +soon have been followed and dragged back to an ignominious death. + +Young reader, I am writing of things that occurred near the beginning of +the present century, and before the Spanish-American colonies became +free from the rule of Old Spain. You will remember that these countries +were then governed by viceroys, who represented the King of Spain, but +who in reality were quite as absolute as that monarch himself. The +great viceroys of Mexico and Peru held court in grand state, and lived +in the midst of barbaric pomp and luxury. The power of life and death +was in their hands, and in many instances they used it in the most +unjust and arbitrary manner. They were themselves, of course, natives +of Old Spain--often the pampered favourites of that corrupt court. All +the officials by which they were surrounded and served were, like +themselves, natives of Spain, or "Gachupinos," (as the Creoles used to +call them,) while the Creoles--no matter how rich, or learned, or +accomplished in any way--were excluded from every office of honour and +profit. They were treated by the Gachupinos with contempt and insult. +Hence for long long years before the great revolutions of Spanish +America, a strong feeling of dislike existed between Creole Spaniards +and Spaniards of Old Spain; and this feeling was quite independent of +that which either had towards the Indians--the aborigines of America. +This feeling brought about the revolution, which broke out in all the +countries of Spanish America (including Mexico) about the year 1810, and +which, after fifteen years of cruel and sanguinary fighting, led to the +independence of these countries. + +Some people will tell you that they gained nothing by this independence, +as since that time so much war and anarchy have marked their history. +There is scarcely any subject upon which mankind thinks more +superficially, and judges more wrongly, than upon this very one. It is +a mistake to suppose that a people enjoys either peace or prosperity, +simply because it is quiet. There is quiet in Russia, but to its +millions of serfs war continuous and eternal; and the same may be said +of many other countries as well as Russia. To the poor slave, or even +to the over-taxed subject, peace is no peace, but a constant and +systematised struggle, often more pernicious in its effects than even +the anarchy of open war. A war of this kind numbers its slain by +millions, for the victims of famine are victims of _political crime_ on +the part of a nation's rulers. I have no time now to talk of these +things. Perhaps, boy reader, you and I may meet on this ground again, +and at no very distant period. + +Well, it was not in the general rising of 1810 that Don Pablo had been +compromised, but previous to that. The influence of the European +Revolution of 1798 was felt even in distant Spanish America, and several +ebullitions occurred in different parts of that country at the same +time. They were premature; they were crushed. Those who had taken part +in them were hunted to the death. Death! death! was the war-cry of the +Spanish hirelings, and bitterly did they execute their vengeance on all +who were compromised. Don Pablo would have been a victim among others, +had he not had timely warning and escaped; but as it was, all his +property was taken by confiscation, and became the plunder of the +rapacious tyrant. + +We are introduced to him just at the period of his escape. By the aid +of the faithful Guapo he had hastily collected a few things, and with +his wife and family fled in the night. Hence the incompleteness of his +travelling equipage. He had taken one of the most unfrequented paths--a +mere bridle-road--that led from Cuzco eastward over the Cordillera. His +intent was to gain the eastern slope of the Andes mountains, where he +might conceal himself for a time in the uninhabited woods of the Great +_Montana_, and towards this point was he journeying. By a _ruse_ he had +succeeded in putting the soldiers of the despot on a false track; but it +was not certain that they might not yet fall into the true one. No +wonder then, when he gazed back towards Cuzco, that his look was one of +apprehension and anxiety. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE POISON-TREES. + +Following the rugged and winding path, the travellers had climbed to a +height of many thousand feet above the ocean level. There was very +little vegetation around them. Nothing that deserved the name of tree, +if we except a few stunted specimens of quenoa trees (_Polylepis +racemosa_), and here and there patches of the Ratanhia shrub +(_Krameria_), which covered the hill-sides. Both these are used by the +mountain Indians as fuel, but the Ratanhia is also a favourite remedy +against dysentery and blood-spitting. Its extract is even exported to +European countries, and is to be found in the shop of the apothecary. + +Now and then a beautiful species of locust was seen with its bright red +flowers. It was the "Sangre de Christo" of the Peruvian _flora_. + +Don Pablo Romero was a naturalist, and I may here tell you a pleasant +and interesting fact--which is, that many of the earliest patriots and +revolutionists of Spanish America were men who had distinguished +themselves in natural science--in fact, were the "savans" of these +countries. I call this a pleasant fact, and you may deem it a curious +one too, because men of science are usually lovers of peace, and not +accustomed to meddle either in war or politics. But the truth of the +matter is this,--under the government of the viceroys all books, except +those of a monkish religion, were jealously excluded from these +countries. No political work whatever was permitted to be introduced; +and the people were kept in the grossest ignorance of their natural +rights. It was only into learned institutions that a glimmering of the +light of freedom found its way, and it was amongst the professors of +these institutions that the "rights of men" first began to be discussed. +Many of these noble patriots were the first victims offered up on the +altar of Spanish-American independence. + +Don Pablo, I have said, was a naturalist; and it was perhaps the first +journey he had ever made without observing attentively the natural +objects that presented themselves along his route. But his mind was +busy with other cares; and he heeded neither the _fauna_ nor _flora_. +He thought only of his loved wife and dear children, of the dangers to +which he and they were exposed. He thought only of increasing the +distance between them and his vengeful enemies. During that day they +had made a toilsome journey of fifteen miles, up the mountain--a long +journey for the llamas, who rarely travel more than ten or twelve; but +the dumb brutes seemed to exert themselves as if they knew that danger +threatened those who guided them. They belonged to Guapo, who had not +been a mere servant, but a cultivator, and had held a small "chacra," or +farm, under Don Pablo. Guapo's voice was well known to the creatures, +and his "hist!" of encouragement urged them on. But fifteen miles was +an unusual journey, and the animals began to show symptoms of fatigue. +Their humming noise, which bears some resemblance to the tones of an +Eolian harp, boomed loud at intervals as the creatures came to a stop; +and then the voice of Guapo could be heard urging them forward. + +The road led up a defile, which was nothing more than the bed of a +mountain-torrent, now dry. For a long distance there was no spot of +level ground where our travellers could have encamped, even had they +desired to stop. At length, however, the path led out of the +torrent-bed, and they found themselves on a small ledge, or table, +covered with low trees. These trees were of a peculiar kind, very +common in all parts of the Andes, and known as _molle_ trees. They are +more properly bushes than trees, being only about ten or twelve feet in +height. They have long delicate pinnate leaves, very like those of the +acacia, and, when in fruit, they are thickly covered with clusters of +small bright red berries. These berries are used among some tribes of +Indians for making a highly valuable and medicinal beer; but the wood of +the tree is of more importance to the people of those parts as an +article of fuel, because the tree grows where other wood is scarce. It +is even considered by the sugar-refiners as the best for their purpose, +since its ashes, possessing highly alkaline properties, are more +efficient than any other in purifying the boiling juice of the +sugar-cane. The leaves of this beautiful tree, when pressed, emit a +strong aromatic smell; and a very curious property ascribed to it by the +more ignorant people of the mountains will be illustrated by the +dialogue which follows:-- + +"Let us pass the night here," said Don Pablo, halting, and addressing +himself to Guapo. "This level spot will serve us to encamp. We can +sleep under the shade of the bushes." + +"What! _mi amo_! (my master) Here?" replied the Indian, with a gesture +of surprise. + +"And why not here? Can any place be better? If we again enter the +defile we may find no other level spot. See! the llamas will go no +farther. We must remain therefore." + +"But, master," continued Guapo--"see!" + +"See what?" + +"The trees, master!" + +"Well, what of the trees? Their shade will serve to screen us from the +night dew. We can sleep under them." + +"Impossible, master--_they are poison trees_!" + +"You are talking foolishly, Guapo. These are _molle_ trees." + +"I know it, senor; but they are poison. If we sleep under them we shall +not awake in the morning--we shall awake no more." + +And Guapo, as he uttered these words, looked horrified. + +"This is nonsense; you are superstitious, old man. We must abide here. +See, the llamas have lain down. They will not move hence, I warrant." + +Guapo turned to the llamas, and thinking that their movements might +influence the decision of his master, began to urge them in his +accustomed way. But it is a peculiarity of these creatures not to stir +one step beyond what they consider a proper journey. Even when the load +is above that which they are accustomed to carry--that is to say, 120 +pounds--neither voice nor whip will move them. They may be goaded to +death, but will not yield, and coaxing has a like effect. Both knew +that they had done their day's work; and the voice, the gesticulations +and blows of Guapo, were all in vain. Neither would obey him any +longer. The Indian saw this, and reluctantly consented to remain; at +the same time he continued to repeat his belief that they would all most +certainly perish in the night. For himself, he expressed his intention +to climb a ledge, and sleep upon the naked rocks; and he earnestly +entreated the others to follow his example. + +Don Pablo listened to the admonitions of his retainer with incredulity, +though not with any degree of disdain. He knew the devotedness of the +old Indian, and therefore treated, what he considered a more +superstition, with a show of respect. But he felt an inclination to +cure Guapo of the folly of such a belief; and was, on this account, the +more inclined to put his original design into execution. To pass the +night under the shade of the molle trees was, therefore, determined +upon. + +All dismounted. The llamas were unloaded; their packs, or _yerguas_, +taken off; the horse and mule were unsaddled; and all were permitted to +browse over the little space which the ledge afforded. They were all +trained animals. There was no fear of any of them straying. + +The next thing was to prepare supper. All were hungry, as none of the +party had eaten since morning. In the hurry of flight, they had made no +provision for an extended journey. A few pieces of _charqui_ (jerked or +dried beef) had been brought along; and, in passing near a field of +"oca," Guapo had gathered a bunch of the roots, and placed them on the +back of his llama. This oca is a tuberous root (_Oxalis tuberosa_), of +an oval shape and pale red colour, but white inside. It resembles very +much the Jerusalem artichoke, but it is longer and slimmer. Its taste +is very agreeable and sweetish--somewhat like that of pumpkins, and it +is equally good when roasted or boiled. There is another sort of +tuberous root (_Tropaeolum tuberosum_), called "ulluca" by the +Peruvians, which is more glutinous and less pleasant to the taste. This +kind is various in form, being either round, oblong, straight, or +curved, and of a reddish, yellow colour outside, though green within. +It is insipid when boiled with water, but excellent when dressed with +Spanish peppers (_Capsicum_). Out of the _oca_, then, and _charqui_, +the supper must be made; and for the purpose of cooking it, a fire must +be kindled with the wood of the molle. + +For a long time there was a doubt about whether it would be safe to +kindle this fire. The sun had not yet gone down, and the smoke might +attract observation from the valley below. If the pursuers were on +their track, it might be noticed; as upon this lonely route a fire would +indicate nothing else than the camp of some one on a journey. But the +stomachs of our travellers cried for food, and it was at length resolved +to light the fire, but not until after sunset, when the smoke could be +no longer seen, and the blaze would be hidden behind the thick bushes of +molle. + +Don Pablo walked off from the camp, and wandered among the trees to see +if he could find something that might contribute a little variety to +their simple supper. A small, broom-like plant, that grew among the +molle trees, soon attracted his attention. This was the _quinoa_ plant +(_Chenopodium quinoa_), which produces a seed, not unlike rice, though +smaller in the grain, whence it has received in commerce the name "petty +rice." The quinoa seeds, when boiled, are both pleasant and nutritious, +but especially so when boiled in milk. Previous to the discovery of +America, "quinoa" was an article of food, supplying the place of wheat. +It was much used by the natives, and is still collected for food in many +parts. Indeed, it has been introduced into some European countries, and +cultivated with success. The leaves, when young, can be used as +spinach, but the seeds are the most sought after for food. + +Don Pablo having called Leon to assist him, a quantity of the seeds were +soon collected into a vessel, and carried to the place which they had +chosen for their camp; and, as it was now dark enough, the fire was +kindled and the cooking-pot got ready. The Dona Isidora, although a +fine lady, was one of those who had all her life been accustomed to look +after her household affairs: and this, it may be remarked, is a somewhat +rare virtue among the Peruvian ladies, who are generally too much given +to dress and idleness. It was not so, however, with the wife of Don +Pablo. She knew how to look after the affairs of the _cuisine_, and +could dress any of the peculiar dishes of the country with the best of +cooks. In a short while, therefore, an excellent supper was ready, of +which all ate heartily, and then, wrapping themselves up in their +ponchos, lay down to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE SUPPER OF GUAPO. + +I have said all ate of the supper. This is not strictly true. One of +the party did not touch it, and that was old Guapo. Why? Was he not +hungry like the rest? Yes; as hungry as any of them. Why then did he +not eat of the _charqui_ and ocas? Simply because Guapo had a supper of +a very different kind, which he carried in his pouch, and which he liked +much better than the charqui stew. What was it? It was "coca." + +"Chocolate," you will say, or, as some call it, "cocoa," which should be +called, to name it properly, "cacao." No, I answer--it was not +chocolate, nor cocoa, nor cacao neither. + +"It must have been cocoa-nuts, then?" No; nor yet cocoa-nuts. The +"coca," upon which Guapo made his supper, and which contented his +stomach perfectly for the night, was an article very different from +either the cacao which makes chocolate, or the nut of the cocoa-palm. +You are now impatient to hear what sort of thing it was, and I shall +tell you at once. + +The coca is a small tree or shrub about six feet in height, which grows +in the warmer valleys among the Andes mountains. Its botanical name is +_Erythroxylon coca_. Its leaves are small and of a bright green colour, +and its blossoms white. Its fruits are very small scarlet berries. It +is a native plant, and, therefore, found in a wild state; but it is +cultivated by the planters of these countries in fields regularly laid +out, and hence called "cocales." This plant is raised from the seed, +and when the young shoots have attained the height of about eighteen +inches, they are transplanted and put down again at the distance of +about a foot apart from each other. Now as these little bushes require +a humid atmosphere, maize-plants are sown between the rows to protect +them from the sun. In other places arbours of palm-leaves are +constructed over the coca-plants. When no rain falls, they are watered +every five or six days. After about two and a half years of this +nursing, the coca-bush is ready for use, and it is the leaves alone that +are valuable. These are gathered with great care, just as the Chinese +gather the leaves of the tea-plant; and, as in China, women are +principally employed in this labour. The leaves are said to be ripe, +not when they have withered and turned brown, but at a period when they +are full-grown and become brittle. When this period arrives, they are +picked from the tree, and laid out on coarse woollen cloths to dry in +the sun. When dried, they remain of a pale green colour; but should +they get damp during the process, they become darker, and are then of +inferior quality, and sell for a less price. When fully dried, they are +carefully packed in bags and covered up with dry sand, and are thus +ready for the market. Their price, on the spot where the crop is +produced, is about one shilling English per pound. They are, therefore, +full as costly to produce as tea itself, although the coca-bush will +yield three crops of leaves in one year--that is, a crop every four +months; and one hundred plants will produce about an arroba (25 pounds) +at a crop. The coca-plant will continue to give fresh leaves for a long +period of years, unless attacked and destroyed by ants, which is not +unfrequently the case. + +Now, why have I so minutely described the coca-bush? Because, that, in +the economy of the life of those Indians who inhabit the countries of +the Andes mountains, this curious plant plays a most important part. +Scarcely one of these people is to be met with who is not an eater of +coca--a "coquero." With them it is what the tea-tree is to the Chinese. +Indeed, it is a curious fact, that in all parts of the world some +stimulating vegetable is used by the human race. Tea in China; the +betel-leaf, and the nut of the areca palm, among the Southern Asiatics; +the poppy in the East; with tobacco, and many like things, in other +countries. + +But the coca not only supplies the Indian with a solace to his cares, it +forms the chief article of his food. With a supply of coca, an Indian +will support himself five or six days without eating anything else. The +poor miners, in the Peruvian mines, are all "coqueros;" and it is +alleged that, without coca, they would be unable to undergo the painful +toil to which their calling subjects them. When used to excess, the +coca produces deleterious effects on the human system; but, if +moderately taken, it is far more innocent in its results than either +opium or tobacco. + +The coca-leaf is not eaten alone. A certain preparation is necessary, +and another substance is mixed with it before it produces the proper +effect. But let us watch the movements of Guapo, and we shall see how +he does it, for Guapo is a confirmed coquero. + +Guapo, true to his promise, does not sleep under the molle trees. He +leaves the party, and, with a melancholy air, has climbed up and seated +himself upon a projecting rock, where he intends to pass the night. His +last glance at Don Pablo and his family was one of foreboding. He had +again remonstrated with his master, but to no purpose. The latter only +laughed at the earnestness of the old Indian, and told him to go to his +perch and leave the party to themselves. + +It was still grey light when Guapo climbed up to the rock. Against the +sky his tall, lank form could be traced in all its outlines. For some +moments he sat in a serious and reflective mood--evidently busy with +thoughts about the "poison-trees." His appetite, however, soon got the +better of him; and he set to work to prepare his coca supper. It was a +simple operation. + +Around Guapo's neck there hung a small pouch made of the skin of the +chinchilla, which beautiful little animal is a native of these parts. +This pouch contained a quantity of the dry leaves of the coca. Having +taken out some half-dozen of these leaves, he put them into his mouth +and commenced chewing them. In a short while, by the aid of tongue, +teeth, and lips, they were formed into a little ball of pulp, that +rolled about in his mouth. Another step in the process now became +necessary. A small gourd, that hung around Guapo's neck by a thong, was +laid hold of. This was corked with a wooden stopper, in which stopper a +wire pin was fixed, long enough to reach down to the bottom of the +gourd. After taking out the stopper, Guapo applied the lower part of +the pin to his lips, and then, plunging it once more into the gourd, +drew it out again. This time the pin came out, with a fine whitish +powder adhering to the part that had been wetted. Now what was this +powder? It was nothing else than lime that had been burned, and then +pulverised. Perhaps it was the ashes of the molle tree, of which we +have already spoken, and which, as we have said, possess a highly +alkaline property. The ashes of the musa, or plantain, are sometimes +used; but, after all, it is most likely that it was the molle ashes +which Guapo carried, for these are most highly esteemed by the Indians +of Southern Peru; and Guapo was a connoisseur in coca-eating. Whichever +of the three it was--lime, molle, or musa--Guapo carried the pin to his +mouth, and, without touching his lips (it would have burnt him if he +had), he inserted it, so as to penetrate the ball of chewed coca-leaves +that rested upon the tip of his tongue. This was stabbed repeatedly and +adroitly by the pin, until all the powder remained in the coca-ball; and +then the pin was withdrawn, wiped, and restored to its place, along with +the stopper of the gourd. + +Guapo now remained quietly "ruminating" for a period of about forty +minutes--for this is about the time required for chewing a mess of +coca-leaves. Indeed, so exactly is this time observed, that the +Indians, when travelling, measure distances by it; and one "coceada" is +about equal to the time occupied in walking a couple of English miles. + +The coceada of our old Indian being finished, he drew his llama-wool +poncho around him; and, leaning back against the rock, was soon buried +in a profound slumber. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +THE PUNA. + +By early dawn Guapo was awake, but he did not immediately awake the +others. It was still too dark to follow the mountain road. His first +care was to have his coca breakfast, and to this he applied himself at +once. + +Day was fairly broke when he had ended the process of mastication, and +he bethought him of descending from the rock to arouse the sleepers. He +knew they still slept, as no voice had yet issued from the grove of +molles. The mule and horse were heard cropping the grass, and the +llamas were now feeding upon an open spot,--the first they had eaten +since their halt, as these creatures do not browse in the night. + +Guapo descended with fear in his heart. How it would have joyed him to +hear the voice of his master, or of any of them! But, no. Not a sound +proceeded from any one of the party. He stole nimbly along the ledge, +making his way through the molle trees. At length he reached the spot. +All asleep?--yes, all! "Are they dead?" thought Guapo, and his heart +beat with anxiety. Indeed, they seemed so. The fatigue of travel had +cast a sickly paleness over the faces of all, and one might easily have +fancied they no longer lived. But they breathed. "Yes, they breathe!" +ejaculated the old Indian, half aloud. "They live!" Guapo bent down, +and seizing Don Pablo by the arm, shook him--at first gently, uttering, +at the same time, some words to awake him. But neither the shaking nor +the voice had any effect. Guapo shook more violently, and shouted +louder. Still Don Pablo slept. None of the others moved--none of them +heard him. It was strange, for the Indian knew that Don Pablo himself, +as well as the others, were easily awaked on ordinary occasions. Guapo, +becoming alarmed, now raised his voice to its loudest pitch, at the same +time dragging Don Pablo's shoulder in a still more violent manner. This +had the desired effect. The sleeper awoke, but so slowly, and evidently +with such exertion, that there was something mysterious in it. + +"What is it?" he inquired, with half-opened eyes. "Is it morning +already?" + +"The sun is up. Rouse, my master! It is time we were on the road," +replied the Indian. + +"I feel very drowsy--I am heavy--I can scarce keep my eyes open. What +can be the cause of this?" + +"The poison-trees, master," answered Guapo. + +The answer seemed to impress Don Pablo. He made a violent effort, and +rose to his feet. When up he could scarcely stand. He felt as though +he had swallowed a powerful opiate. + +"It must be so, good Guapo. Perhaps there is some truth in what you +have said. O, heavens!" exclaimed he, suddenly recollecting +himself,--"the others--my wife and children!" + +This thought had fully awakened Don Pablo; and Guapo and he proceeded at +once to arouse the others, which they effected after much shouting and +shaking. All were still heavy with sleep, and felt as did Don Pablo +himself. + +"Surely there is some narcotic power in the aroma of these trees," +muttered Don Pablo. "Come, wife, let us be gone! We must remain under +its influence no longer, else what Guapo has said may prove too true. +Saddle up--we must eat our breakfasts farther on. To the road!--to the +road!" + +Guapo soon had the horses ready, and all hurried from the spot, and were +once more climbing up the mountain-path. Even the animals seemed to +move slowly and lazily, as though they, too, had been under the +influence of some soporific. But the pure cold air of the mountain soon +produced its effect. All gradually recovered, and after cooking some +_charqui_ and ocas in the ravine, and making their breakfast upon these, +they again felt light and fresh, and pursued their journey with renewed +vigour. + +The road kept on up the ravine, and in some places the banks rose almost +perpendicularly from the bed of the dry torrent, presenting on both +sides vast walls of black porphyry--for this is the principal rock +composing the giant chain of the Andes. Above their heads screamed +small parrots of rich plumage of the species _Conurus rupicola_, which +make their nestling places, and dwell upon these rocky cliffs. This is +a singular fact, as all other parrots known are dwellers among trees and +are found in the forest at all times, except when on their passage from +place to place. But even the squirrel, which is an animal peculiarly +delighting in tree-life, has its representative in several species of +ground-squirrels, that never ascend a tree; and, among the monkeys, +there exists the troglodyte or cave-dwelling chimpanzee. No doubt +squirrels or monkeys of any kind, transported to an open or treeless +country, would soon habituate themselves to their new situation,--for +Nature affords many illustrations of this power of adaptation on the +part of her creatures. + +It was near sunset when our travellers reached the highest point of +their route, nearly 14,000 feet above the level of the sea! Here they +emerged upon an open plain which stretched far before them. Above this +plain towered mountains of all shapes to a height of many thousand feet +from the level of the plain itself. Some of these mountains carried +their covering of eternal snow, which, as the evening sun glanced upon +it, exhibited the most beautiful tints of rose, and purple, and gold. +The plain looked bleak and barren, and the cold which our travellers now +felt added to the desolateness of the scene. No trees were in sight. +Dry yellow grass covered the ground, and the rocks stood out naked and +shaggy. They had reached one of those elevated tables of the Andes +known as the _Puna_. + +These singular tracts elevated above the level of cultivation are almost +uninhabited. Their only inhabitants are a few poor Indians, who are +employed by the rich proprietors of the lower valleys as shepherds; for +upon these cold uplands thrive sheep, and cattle, and llamas, and flocks +of the wool-bearing alpaco. Through this wild region, however, you may +travel for days without encountering even a single one of the wretched +and isolated inhabitants who watch over these flocks and herds. + +On reaching the Puna, our party had made their day's journey, and would +have halted. The llamas already showed signs of giving out by stopping +and uttering their strange booming note. But Guapo knew these parts-- +for, though a descendant of the Incas, he had originally come from the +great forest beyond the eastern slope of the Andes, where many of the +Peruvian Indians had retired after the cruel massacres of Pizarro. He +now remembered, that not far from where they were, was a shepherd's hut, +and that the shepherd himself was an old friend of his. That would be +the place to stop for the night; and, by Guapo's advice, Don Pablo +resolved to continue on to the hut. Guapo fell upon his knees before +the llamas, and, after caressing and kissing them, and using a great +variety of endearing expressions, he at last coaxed these animals to +proceed. No other means would have availed, as beating would not make +either llama budge an inch. The leader, who was a fine large animal and +a great favourite with its master, at length stepped boldly out; and the +other, encouraged by the sound of the small bells that tinkled around +the head of the leader, followed after, and so the travellers moved on. + +"Come, papa!" cried Leon; "you are tired yourself--mount this horse--I +can walk a bit:" at the same instant the boy flung himself from the back +of the horse, and led him up to where his father stood. Then handing +the bridle to the latter, he struck off along the plain, following Guapo +and his llamas. + +The road skirted round the rocks, where the mountain came down to meet +the plain. The walk was not a long one, for the hut of which Guapo +spoke became visible at less than a quarter of a mile's distance. An +odd-looking hut it was--more like an ill-built stack of bean-straw than +a house. It had been built in the following manner:-- + +First, a round ring of large stones had been laid, then a row of turf, +then another tier of stones, and so on, until the circular wall had +reached the height of about four or five feet, the diameter being not +more than eight or nine. On the top of the wall a number of poles had +been set, so as to meet above where they were tied together. These +poles were nothing else than the long flower-stalks of the _maguey_ or +American aloe (_Agave Americana_), as no other wood of sufficient length +grew in the vicinity. These poles served for rafters, and across them +laths had been laid, and made fast. Over all this was placed a thatch +of the long coarse Puna grass, which was tied in its place by grass +ropes that were stretched from side to side over the top. This was the +hut of Guapo's friend, and similar to all others that may be encountered +in the wild region of the Puna. A door was left in the side, not over +two feet high, so that it was necessary to crawl upon the hands and +knees before any one could reach the interior. + +As our travellers approached, they saw that the entrance was closed by +an ox-hide which covered the whole of the opening. + +Whether the shepherd was at home, was the next question; but as they got +near to the house, Guapo suggested that Don Pablo should dismount and +let Leon get upon horseback. This suggestion was made on account of the +Puna dogs--of which creatures Guapo had a previous knowledge. These +dogs, known by the name of Inca dogs (_Canis Ingae_), are, perhaps, the +fiercest animals of their species. They are small, with pointed +muzzles, tails curling upward, and long shaggy hair. They are +half-wild, snappish, and surly, as it is possible for dogs to be. They +attack strangers with fury, and it is as much as their masters can do to +rescue even a friend from their attack. Even when wounded, and unable +any longer to keep their feet, they will crawl along the ground and bite +the legs of those who have wounded them. They are even more hostile to +white people than to Indians, and it is sometimes dangerous to approach +an Indian hut where three or four of these fierce creatures are kept, as +they will jump up against the side of a horse, and bite the legs of the +rider. Their masters often use the stick before they can get obedience +from them. In every Indian hut several of these animals may be found, +as they are extremely useful to the shepherds in guarding their flocks +and for hunting. They are much employed throughout the Puna to hunt the +"yutu," a species of partridge which inhabits the rushy grass. This +bird is traced by the dogs, seized before it can take to flight, and +killed by a single bite of its fierce pursuer. Considering the savage +nature of the Inca dogs, Guapo showed great caution in approaching the +hut of his friend. He first called loudly, but there was no reply. He +then stole forward with his long knife, or "_machete_" in his hand; and +having lifted the skin that covered the low doorway, peeped in. The hut +was empty. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE WILD BULL OF THE PUNA. + +Guapo was not much troubled at this. He knew he could take the liberty +of using his friend's roof for the night, even should the latter not +return to grant it. He crawled in. Of course his friend was only +temporarily absent--no doubt looking after his flocks of sheep and +alpacos; and as he was a bachelor, there was no wife at home, but there +were his furniture and utensils. Furniture! No--there was none. There +never is in the hut of a Puna shepherd. Utensils! yes--there was an +earthen "olla," or pot to cook soup in, another to boil or roast maize, +a jar to hold water, a few split gourd-shells for plates, two or three +others for cups--that was all. This was the catalogue of utensils. Two +stones set a little apart formed the fire-place, in which the shepherd, +when he makes a fire to cook with, makes it out of dry dung (_taquia_). +A couple of dirty sheepskins lay upon the ground. These were the bed. +Nothing more was to be seen. Yes, there was one thing more, and this +gladdened the eyes of Guapo. In a bag that hung against the wall, and +on which he soon laid his hands, he felt something--a collection of hard +round objects, about as big as large chestnuts. Guapo knew very well +what these were. He knew they were "macas." + +What are _macas_? you will ask. Macas, then, are tuberous roots that +grow in the elevated regions of the Puna, where neither ocas, ullucas, +nor potatoes, will thrive. They are cultivated by the inhabitants, and +in many parts constitute almost the only food of these wretched people. +They have an agreeable and rather sweetish flavour, and, when boiled in +milk, taste somewhat like boiled chestnuts. They can be preserved for +more than a year, by simply drying them in the sun, and then exposing +them to the cold air, when they become hard and shrivelled. They thrive +best in this high region, for although they will grow in the lower +valleys, they are there very insipid and worthless. The Indians prepare +them for food by boiling them into a soup, or syrup, which is taken with +parched maize-corn. + +Guapo knew that he had got his hands upon a bag of dried macas, and +although their owner was absent, he had already come to the +determination to appropriate them for himself and party. His joy at the +discovery had not subsided when another bag drew his attention, and this +was the signal for another delightful surprise. His hand touched the +new bag in a trice. There was a rattling sound within. Peas? No-- +maize. + +"Good!" ejaculated Guapo; "maize and macas! That with what is left of +the charqui--we shall not fast to-night." + +Guapo now backed himself out of the hut, and joyfully announced the +discoveries he had made. The travellers dismounted. The horse and mule +were picketed on lassoes on the plain. The llamas were left to go at +will. They would not stray far from their owner. + +It was piercing cold in this highland region. Dona Isidora and the +children entered the hut, while Don Pablo and Guapo remained without for +the purpose of collecting fuel. There was not a stick of wood, as no +trees of any sort grew near. Both strayed off upon the plain to gather +the _taquia_, or ordure of the cattle, though no cattle were in sight. +Their tracks, however, were visible all around. + +While engaged thus, the old Indian suddenly raised himself from his +stooping position with an exclamation that betokened alarm. What had +startled him? A loud bellowing was heard--it was the bellowing of a +bull. But what was there in that sound to alarm two full-grown men? +Ah! you know not the bulls of the Puna. + +Coming around a promontory of rocks a large black bull was in sight. He +was approaching them in full run, his head thrown down, his eyes glaring +fiercely. At every spring he uttered a roar, which was terrific to +hear. A more horrid object it would be difficult to conceive. You may +suppose that an adventure with an enraged bull is one of an ordinary +character, and may occur any day, even in the green meadow pastures of +Old England. So it is, if the animal were only an English bull. But it +is a far different affair with the bulls of the Puna. Throughout all +Spanish America animals of this kind are of a fiercer nature than +elsewhere. It is from them the bulls used in the celebrated fights are +obtained; and, perhaps, the race has been made fiercer by the treatment +they receive on such occasions--for many of those that exhibit in the +arena, are afterwards used to breed from. But, in general, the +Spanish-American "vaqueros," or cattle--herds, treat the cattle under +their charge with much cruelty, and this has the effect of rendering +them savage. Even in herds of cattle where there are no bulls, there +are cows so dangerous to approach, that the vaqueros never attempt +driving them unless when well mounted. A Mexican or South American +cattle-herd is, therefore, always a mounted man. There is a difference, +too, among the bulls in different parts of these countries. On the +Llanos of Venezuela they are not so fierce as those of the Puna, and +they are more and less so in different parts of Mexico and the Pampas of +Buenos Ayres. + +The Puna bulls are, perhaps, the fiercest and most dangerous of all. +They are more than half wild. They scarcely ever see a human being, and +they will attack one upon sight. To a mounted man there is little +danger, unless by the stumbling or falling of his horse; but many a poor +Indian, crossing these high plains afoot, has fallen a sacrifice to +these vengeful brutes. + +Both Don Pablo and Guapo knew all this, and therefore were aware of +their own danger. Neither had a weapon--not so much as a stick. They +had laid aside their knives and other arms, which had been carried +inside the hut. To reach the hut before the bull reached them would be +impossible; the brute was coming nearly from it--for he had issued from +some shelter in the rocks not far off. They were full two hundred yards +out upon the plain, and to run in the direction of the rocks would have +been to run counter to the bull, and meet him face to face! Their +danger was imminent. What was to be done? + +There was not much time left them for consideration. The furious animal +was within thirty paces distance, roaring loudly, shaking his head and +brandishing his long sharp horns. At this moment a happy thought +occurred almost simultaneously to Don Pablo and the Indian. The +evening, as we have already said, was piercing cold, and both, in going +out to collect the fuel, had worn their ponchos. The trick of the +matador with his red cloak suggested itself in this moment of peril. +Both had seen it performed--Don Pablo often--and knew something of the +"way." In a moment both had stripped the ponchos from their shoulders, +and, placing themselves _a la matador_, awaited the onset of the bull. +It was agreed that as soon as the bull was "hooded" by either, that both +should run at all speed to the rocks, where they could easily climb out +of reach of the animal. + +Don Pablo happened to be more in the way, and perhaps his more showy +poncho attracted the brute; but whether or not, he was the first to +receive the charge. With the adroitness of a practised matador he flung +his poncho on the horns of the animal, and then both ran in the +direction of the rocks. As they faced towards the hut, however, to the +horror of Don Pablo he saw the Dona Isidora, with Leon and the little +Leona, all outside, and even at some distance from the entrance! +Attracted by the bellowing of the bull and the shouts of the men, they +had rushed out of the hut. + +Don Pablo, in wild accents, shouted to them to make for the door; but, +paralysed by terror, they were for some moments unable to move. At +length Dona Isidora, recovering herself, ran for the entrance, pushing +the children before her. But the low doorway was difficult of access; +they were slow in getting under it; and they would have been too late, +as the bull, after shaking off the poncho, had turned and made directly +for the hut. + +"O God, preserve her!" cried Don Pablo, as he saw the enraged animal +within a few paces of where his wife had knelt to enter the doorway. +"She is lost! she is lost!" + +In fact, the bull was making directly towards her, and it seemed as if +nothing could then have interposed to save her. + +At that moment the tramp of a horse in full gallop sounded on their +ears. Don Pablo looked up. A strange horseman was near the spot--an +Indian. Over his head a singular instrument was revolving. There were +three thongs fastened at one end, while at the other end of each was a +ball. These balls were whirling and gyrating in the air. The next +moment both thongs and balls were seen to part from the hands of the +rider, and warp themselves around the legs of the bull. The latter made +an awkward spring forward, and then fell upon the plain, where he lay +kicking and helpless. The horseman uttered a yell of triumph, sprang +from his horse, and running up to the prostrate animal, thrust the blade +of his long machete into its throat. The red stream gushed forth, and +in a few seconds the black monster lay motionless upon the plain. + +The new-comer quietly unwound the thongs--the _bolas_--from the legs of +the dead bull, and then addressed himself to our travellers. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +THE "VAQUERO." + +Who was this deliverer? No other than the vaquero--the friend of +Guapo,--who now welcomed Guapo and his companions, telling them in the +polite phraseology of all Spanish-Americans that his _house_ (?) was at +their service. They were welcome to all it contained. + +The macas, and maize, and a fresh steak from the wild bull, enabled them +to make a most excellent supper. In return for this hospitality, Don +Pablo made the vaquero a handsome present out of his purse; but what +gratified him still more was a supply of coca which his friend Guapo was +enabled to bestow upon him, for his own stock had been exhausted for +some days. Guapo, on leaving Cuzco, had spent his last _peseta_ in +buying this luxury, and therefore was well provided for weeks to come. + +After they had had supper, he and his friend seated themselves on one +side, and quietly chewed for a good half-hour, when at length Guapo, who +knew he could trust the vaquero--because the latter, like himself, was +one of the "patriotas"--communicated to him the object of their journey +through that desolate region. The vaquero not only promised secrecy, +but bound himself to put any party of pursuers completely off the trail. +The vaquero, even in his remote mountain-home, had heard of Don Pablo, +knew that he was a good patriot and friend of the Indians, and he would +therefore have risked his life to serve such a man--for no people have +proved more devoted to the friends of their race than these simple and +faithful Indians of the Andes. How many instances of noble +self-sacrifice--even of life itself--occurred during the painful history +of their conquest by the cruel and sanguinary followers of Pizarro! + +The vaquero, therefore, did all in his power to make his guests +comfortable for the night. His dogs--there were four of them--were not +so hospitably inclined, for they did not seem to know friends from +enemies. They had come up shortly after their master himself arrived, +and had made a desperate attack upon everybody. The vaquero, however, +assisted by Guapo--who, being an Indian, was less troubled with them-- +gave them a very rough handling with a large whip which he carried; and +then, securing the whole of them, tied them together in a bunch, and +left them at the back of the hut to snap and growl at each other, which +they did throughout the live-long night. Supper over, all the +travellers would have retired to rest; but the vaquero, having announced +that he was going out to set snares for the chinchillas and viscachas, +Leon could not rest, but asked permission to accompany him. This was +granted both by Don Pablo and the vaquero himself. + +The chinchilla, and its near relative the viscacha, are two little +animals of the rodent, or grass-eating kind, that inhabit the very +highest mountains of Peru and Chili. They are nearly of the same size, +and each about as big as a rabbit, which in habits they very much +resemble. They have long tails, however, which the rabbit has not, +though the latter beats them in the length of his ears. The colour of +the chinchilla is known to everybody, since its soft, velvety fur is +highly prized by ladies as an article of dress, and may be seen in every +London fur-shop. The animal is of a beautiful marbled grey, white and +black, with pure white feet. The fur of the viscacha is not so pretty, +being of a brownish and white mixture. Its cheeks are black, with long, +bristly moustaches, like those of a cat while its head resembles that of +the hare or rabbit. Both these innocent little creatures live upon the +high declivities of the Andes, in holes and crevices among the rocks, +where they remain concealed during the day, but steal out to feed twice +in the twenty-four hours,--that is, during the evening twilight and in +the early morning. The mode of capturing them is by snares made of +horse-hair, which are set in front of their caves--just as we snare +rabbits in a warren, except that for the rabbits we make use of light +elastic wire, instead of the horse-hair. + +Leon was delighted with the excursion, as the vaquero showed him how to +set the snares, and told him a great many curious stories of Puna life +and habits. Some of these stories were about the great condor vulture-- +which the narrator, of course, described as a much bigger bird than it +really is, for the condor, after all, is not so much bigger than the +griffon vulture, or even the vulture of California. But you, young +reader, have already had a full account of the vultures of America--the +condor among the rest--therefore we shall not repeat what was said by +the vaquero about this interesting bird. + +On the way to the place where the snares were to be set, they passed a +lagoon, or marshy lake, in which were many kinds of birds peculiar to +these high regions. Out on the open water they saw a wild goose of a +very beautiful species. It is called the "Huachua" goose. Its plumage +is of a snowy whiteness, all except the wings, which are bright green +and violet, while the beak, legs, and feet, are scarlet. They also saw +two species of ibis wading about in the marsh, and a gigantic water-hen +(_Fulica gigantea_) almost as big as a turkey. This last is of a dark +grey colour, with a red beak, at the base of which is a large yellow +knob of the shape of a bean. On this account it is called by the +Indians "bean nose." Upon the plain, near the border of the marsh, they +noticed a beautiful plover (_Charadrius_), having plumage marked very +much like that of the "huachua" goose, with green wings shining in the +sun like polished metal. Another curious bird also sat upon the plain, +or flew around their heads. This was a bird of prey of the species of +jerfalcons (_Polyborus_). The vaquero called it the "Huarahua." He +told Leon it preyed only on carrion, and never killed its own food; that +it was very harmless and tame--which was evidently true, as, shortly +after, one of them seated upon a stone allowed the Indian to approach +and knock it over with a stick! Such a silly bird Leon had never seen. + +The vaquero was quite a naturalist in his way--that is, he knew all the +animals of the Puna, and their habits, just as you will sometimes find a +gamekeeper in our own country, or often a shepherd or farm-servant. He +pointed out a rock-woodpecker, which he called a "pito" (_Colaptes +rupicola_), that was fluttering about and flying from rock to rock. +Like the cliff-parrots we have already mentioned, this rock-woodpecker +was a curious phenomenon, for, as their very name implies, the +woodpeckers are all tree-dwelling birds, yet here was one of the genus +living among rocks where not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a +plant, except the thorny cactuses and magueys, with which succulent +vegetables the woodpecker has nothing to do. The "pito" is a small, +brown, speckled bird, with yellow belly, and there were great numbers of +them flying about. + +But the bird which most fixed the attention of Leon was a little bird +about the size of a starling. Its plumage was rather pretty. It was +brown, with black stripes on the back, and white-breasted. But it was +not the plumage of the bird that interested Leon. It was what his +companion told him of a singular habit which it had--that of repeating, +at the end of every hour during the night, its melancholy and monotonous +note. The Indians call this bird the "cock of the Inca," and they +moreover regard it with a sort of superstitious reverence. + +Having placed his snares, the vaquero set out to return with his +youthful companion. As they walked back along the mountain-foot, a fox +stole out from the rocks and skulked towards the marshy lake, no doubt +in search of prey. This fox was the _Canis Azara_, a most troublesome +species, found all through South America. He is the great pest of the +Puna shepherds, as he is a fierce hunter, and kills many of the young +lambs and alpacos. The vaquero was sorry he had not his dogs with him, +as, from the route the fox had taken, he would have been certain to have +captured him, and that would have been worth something, for the great +sheep-owners give their shepherds a sheep for every old fox that they +can kill, and for every young one a lamb. But the dogs, on this +occasion, had been left behind, lest they should have bitten Leon, and +the vaquero was compelled to let "Renard" go his way. It was night when +they returned to the hut, and then, after Leon had related the details +of their excursion, all retired to rest. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +LLAMAS, ALPACOS, VICUNAS, AND GUANACOS. + +Our travellers were stirring by early break of day. As they issued from +the hut, a singular and interesting scene presented itself to their +eyes. At one view--one _coup d'oeil_--they beheld the whole four +species of the celebrated camel-sheep of the Andes; for there are four +of them,--llama, guanaco, alpaco, and vicuna! This was a rare sight, +indeed. They were all browsing upon the open plain: first, the llamas, +near the hut; then a flock of tame alpacos, out upon the plain; thirdly, +a herd of seven guanacos farther off; and still more distant, a larger +herd of the shy vicunas. The guanacos and vicunas were of uniform +colours,--that is, in each flock the colour of the individuals was the +same; while among the llamas and alpacos there were many varieties of +colour. The latter two kinds were tame,--in fact, they were under the +charge of Guapo's friend the shepherd; whereas the herds of vicunas and +guanacos consisted of wild animals. + +Perhaps no animal of South America has attracted so much attention as +the llama, as it was the only beast of burden the Indians had trained to +their use on the arrival of Europeans in that country. So many strange +stories were told by the earlier Spanish travellers regarding this +"camel-sheep," that it was natural that great interest should attach to +it. These reported that the llama was used for riding. Such, however, +is not the case. It is only trained to carry burdens; although an +Indian boy may be sometimes seen on the back of a llama for mischief, or +when crossing a stream and the lad does not wish to get his feet wet. + +The llama is three feet high from hoof to shoulder, though his long neck +makes him look taller. His colour is generally brown, with black and +yellow shades, sometimes speckled or spotted; and there are black and +white llamas, but these are rare. His wool is long and coarse, though +the females, which are smaller, have a finer and better wool. The +latter are never used to carry burdens, but only kept for breeding. +They are fed in flocks upon the Puna heights, and it was a flock of +these that our travellers saw near the hut. + +The males are trained to carry burdens at the age of four years. A +pack-saddle, called _yergua_, woven out of coarse wool, is fastened on +the back, and upon this the goods are placed. The burden never exceeds +120 or 130 pounds. Should a heavier one be put on, the llama, like the +camel, quite understands that he is "over-weighted," and neither coaxing +nor beating will induce him to move a step. He will lie down, or, if +much vexed, spit angrily at his driver, and this spittle has a highly +acrid property, and will cause blisters on the skin where it touches. +Sometimes a llama, over vexed by ill-treatment, has been known, in +despair, to dash his brains out against a rock. + +The llamas are used much in the mines of Peru, for carrying the ore. +They frequently serve better than either asses or mules, as they can +pass up and down declivities where neither ass nor mule can travel. +They are sometimes taken in long trains from the mountains down to the +coast region for salt and other goods; but on such occasions many of +them die, as they cannot bear the warm climate of the lowlands. Their +proper and native place is on the higher plains of the Andes. + +A string of llamas, when on a journey, is a very interesting spectacle. +One of the largest is usually the leader. The rest follow in single +file, at a slow, measured pace, their heads ornamented tastefully with +ribands, while small bells, hanging around their necks, tinkle as they +go. They throw their high heads from side to side, gazing around them, +and when frightened at anything, will "break ranks," and scamper out of +their path, to be collected again with some trouble. When resting, they +utter a low, humming noise, which has been compared to the sound of an +Eolian harp. They crouch down on their breast--where there is a +callosity--when about to receive their burdens, and also sleep resting +in the same attitude. A halt during the day is necessary, in order that +they may be fed, as these animals will not eat by night. In consequence +of this they make but short journeys--ten to fifteen miles--although +they will travel for a long time, allowing them a day's rest out of +every five or six. Like the camels of the East, they can go days +without water, and Buffon knew one that went _eighteen months_ without +it! but Buffon is very poor authority. When one of them becomes +wearied, and does not wish to proceed, it is exceedingly difficult to +coax him onward. + +These animals were at one time very valuable. On the discovery of +America a llama cost as much as eighteen or twenty dollars. But the +introduction of mules and other beasts of burden has considerably +cheapened them. At present they are sold for about four dollars in the +mining districts, but can be bought where they are bred and reared for +half that amount. In the days of the Incas their flesh was much used as +food. It is still eaten; but for this purpose the common sheep is +preferred, as the flesh of the llama is spongy and not very well +flavoured. The wool is used for many sorts of coarse manufacture. So +much for llamas. Now the "guanaco." + +This animal (whose name is sometimes written "huanaca," though the +pronunciation is the same with "guanaco" or "guanaca") is larger than +the llama, and for a long time was considered merely as the wild llama, +or the llama _run wild_, in which you will perceive an essential +distinction. It is neither, but an animal of specific difference. It +exists in a wild state in the high mountains, though, with great care +and trouble, it can be domesticated and trained to carry burdens as well +as its congener the llama. In form it resembles the latter, but, as is +the case with most wild animals, the guanacos are all alike in colour. +The upper parts of the body are of a reddish brown, while underneath it +is a dirty white. The lips are white, and the face a dark grey. The +wool is shorter than that of the llama, and of the same length all over +the body. The guanaco lives in herds of five or seven individuals, and +these are very shy, fleeing to the most inaccessible cliffs when any one +approaches them. Like the chamois of Switzerland and the "bighorn" of +the Rocky Mountains, they can glide along steep ledges where neither men +nor dogs can find footing. + +The "alpaco," or "paco," as it is sometimes called, is one of the most +useful of the Peruvian sheep, and is more like the common sheep than the +others. This arises from its bulkier shape, caused by its thick fleece +of long wool. The latter is soft, fine, and often five inches in +length; and, as is well known, has become an important article in the +manufacture of cloth. Its colour is usually either white or black, +though there are some of the alpacos speckled or spotted. Ponchos are +woven out of alpaco-wool by the Indians of the Andes. + +The alpaco is a domesticated animal, like the llama, but it is not used +for carrying burdens. It is kept in large flocks, and regularly shorn +as sheep are. If one of the alpacos gets separated from the flock, it +will lie down and suffer itself to be beaten to death, rather than go +the way its driver wishes. You have, no doubt, sometimes seen a common +sheep exhibit similar obstinacy. + +Of all the Peruvian sheep the vicuna is certainly the prettiest and most +graceful. It has more the form of the deer or antelope than of the +sheep, and its colour is so striking that it has obtained among the +Peruvians the name of the animal itself, _colour de vicuna_ (vicuna +colour). It is of a reddish yellow, not unlike that of our domestic red +cat, although the breast and under parts of the body are white. The +flesh of the vicuna is excellent eating, and its wool is of more value +than even that of the alpaco. Where a pound of the former sells for one +dollar--which is the usual price--the pound of alpaco will fetch only a +quarter of that sum. Hats and the finest fabrics can be woven from the +fleece of the vicuna, and the Incas used to clothe themselves in rich +stuffs manufactured from it. In the present day, the "ricos," or rich +proprietors of Peru, pride themselves in possessing ponchos of vicuna +wool. + +The vicuna inhabits the high plains of the Andes, though, unlike the +guanaco, it rarely ventures up the rocky cliffs, as its hoofs are only +calculated for the soft turf of the plains. It roams about in larger +herds than the other--eighteen or twenty in the herd--and these are +usually females under the protection and guidance of one polygamous old +male. While feeding, the latter keeps watch over the flock, usually +posting himself at some distance, so that he may have a better +opportunity of seeing and hearing any danger that may approach. When +any is perceived, a shrill whistle from the leader and a quick stroke of +his hoof on the turf warn the flock; and all draw closely together, each +stretching out its head in the direction of the danger. They then take +to flight, at first slowly, but afterwards with the swiftness of the +roe; while the male, true to his trust, hangs in the rear, and halts at +intervals, as if to cover the retreat of the herd. + +The llama, guanaco, alpaco, and vicuna, although different species, will +breed with each other; and it is certain that some of their hybrids will +again produce young. There exist, therefore, many intermediate +varieties, or "mules," throughout the countries of the Andes, some of +which have been mistaken for separate species. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A VICUNA HUNT. + +The vicuna being of such value, both inside and out, both in flesh and +wool, is hunted by the mountain Indians with great assiduity. It is an +animal most difficult to approach, and there is rarely any cover on +these naked plains by which to approach it. + +The chief mode of capturing it is by the "chacu." This cannot be +effected by a single hunter. A great number is required. Usually the +whole population of one of the villages of the "Sierras" lower down +turns out for this sport, or rather business, for it is an annual source +of profit. Even the women go along, to cook and perform other offices, +as the hunt of the _chacu_ sometimes lasts a week or more. + +A hunting party will number from fifty to one hundred persons. They +climb up to the _altos_, or high and secluded plains, where the vicuna +dwells in greatest numbers. They carry with them immense coils of +ropes, and a large quantity of coloured rags, together with bundles of +stakes three or four feet in length. When a proper part of the plain +has been chosen, they drive in the stakes four or five yards apart and +running in the circumference of a circle, sometimes nearly a mile in +diameter. A rope is then stretched from stake to stake, at the height +of between two and three feet from the ground, and over this rope are +hung the coloured rags provided for the occasion, and which keep +fluttering in the wind. A sort of scare-crow fence is thus constructed +in the form of a ring, except that on one side a space of about two +hundred yards is left open to serve as an entrance for the game. The +Indians then, most of them on horseback, make a grand detour, extending +for miles over the country; and having got behind the herds of vicunas, +drive them within the circle, and close up the entrance by completing +the ring. The hunters then go inside, and using the _bolas_, or even +seizing the animals by their hind-legs, soon capture the whole. Strange +to say, these silly creatures make no attempt to break through the sham +fence, nor even to leap over it. Not so with the guanacos, when so +enclosed. The latter spring against the fence at once, and if, by +chance, a party of guanacos be driven in along with the vicunas, they +not only break open the rope enclosure and free themselves, but also the +whole herd of their cousins, the vicunas. It is, therefore, not +considered any gain to get a flock of guanacos into the trap. + +The hunt usually lasts several days, but during that time the enclosure +of ropes is flitted from place to place, until no more vicunas can be +found. Then the ropes, stakes, etcetera, are collected, and the produce +of the hunt distributed among the hunters. But the Church levies its +tax upon the "chacu," and the skins--worth a dollar each--have to be +given up to the priest of the village. A good round sum this amounts +to, as frequently four or five hundred vicunas are taken at a single +_chacu_. + +A good hunter is sometimes able to "approach" the vicuna. Guapo's +friend was esteemed one of the best in all the Puna. The sight of the +herd out on the plain, with their graceful forms, and beautiful +reddish-orange bodies, was too much for him, and he resolved to try his +skill upon them. He said he had a plan of his own, which he intended to +practise on this occasion. + +Don Pablo and his party--even Dona Isidora and the little Leona--were +all outside the hut, although the morning air was raw and chill. But +the domicile of the worthy vaquero was not empty, for all that. It was +peopled by a very large colony of very small animals, and a night in +their society had proved enough for the travellers. The chill air of +the Puna was even more endurable than such company. + +The vaquero crawled back into the hut, and in a few minutes returned, +but so metamorphosed, that had the party not seen him come out of the +doorway they would have mistaken him for a llama! He was completely +disguised in the skin of one of these animals. His face only was partly +visible, and his eyes looked out of the breast. The head and neck of +the skin, stuffed with some light substance, stood up and forward, after +the manner of the living animal, and although the legs were a little +clumsy, yet it would have required a more intelligent creature than the +vicuna to have observed this defect. + +All hands, even the saturnine Guapo, laughed loudly at the counterfeit, +and the vaquero himself was heard to chuckle through the long wool upon +the breast. He did not lose time, however, but instantly prepared to +set off. He needed no other preparation than to get hold of his +_bolas_,--that was his favourite weapon. Before going farther, I shall +tell you what sort of weapon it is. + +The bolas consist of three balls--hence the name--of lead or stone, two +of them heavier than the third. Each ball is fastened to the end of a +stout thong made of twisted sinews of the vicuna itself, and the other +ends of the three thongs are joined together. In using them the hunter +holds the lightest ball in his hand, and twirls the other two in circles +around his head, until they have attained the proper velocity, when he +takes aim and launches them forth. Through the air fly the thongs and +balls, and all whirling round in circles, until they strike some object; +and if that object be the legs of an animal, the thongs become +immediately warped around them, until the animal is regularly hoppled, +and in attempting to escape comes at once to the ground. Of course +great practice is required before such an instrument can be used +skilfully; and to the novice there is some danger of one of the balls +hitting him a crack on the head, and knocking over himself instead of +the game. But there was no danger of Guapo's friend the vaquero +committing this blunder. He had been swinging the bolas around his head +for more than forty years! + +Without more ado, then, he seized the weapon, and, having gathered it +with his _fore-feet_ into a portable shape, he proceeded in the +direction of the vicunas. + +The travellers remained by the hut, watching him with interest, but his +movements were particularly interesting to Leon, who, like all boys, was +naturally fond of such enterprises. + +The herd of vicunas was not more than three quarters of a mile off. For +the first half of this distance the vaquero shambled along right +speedily, but as he drew nearer to the animals he proceeded slower and +with more caution. + +The pretty creatures were busily browsing, and had no fear. They knew +they were well guarded by their faithful sentinel, in whom they had +every confidence,--the lord and leader of the herd. Even from the hut, +this one could be seen standing some distance apart from the rest. He +was easily recognised by his greater bulk and prouder bearing. + +The false llama has passed near the guanacos, and they have taken no +heed of him. This is a good omen, for the guanacos are quite as sharp +and shy as their smaller cousins, and since he has succeeded in +deceiving them, he will likely do the same for the vicunas. Already he +approaches them. He does not make for the herd, but directly for the +leader. Surely he is near enough; from the hut he seems close up to the +creature. See! the vicuna tosses his head and strikes the ground with +his hoof. Listen! it is his shrill whistle. The scattered herd +suddenly start and flock together; but, look! the _llama_ stands erect +on his hind-legs; the bolas whirl around his head--they are launched +out. Ha! the vicuna is down! + +Where is the female drove? Have they scampered off and forsaken their +lord? No! faithful as a loving wife, they run up to share his danger. +With shrill cries they gather around him, moving to and fro. The llama +is in their midst. See! he is dealing blows with some weapon--it is a +knife! his victims fall around him--one at every blow; one by one they +are falling. At last, at last, they are all down,--yes, the whole herd +are stretched, dead or dying, upon the plain! + +The struggle is over; no sound is heard, save the hoof-stroke of the +guanacos, llamas, and alpacos, that cover the plain in their wild +flight. + +Leon could no longer restrain his curiosity; but ran off to the scene of +the slaughter. There he counted no less than nineteen vicunas lying +dead, each one stabbed in the ribs! The Indian assured him that it was +not the first _battue_ of the kind he had made. A whole herd of vicunas +is often taken in this way. When the male is wounded or killed, the +females will not leave him; but, as if out of gratitude for the +protection he has during life afforded them, they share his fate without +making an effort to escape! + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +CAPTURING A CONDOR. + +The vaquero with his horse soon dragged the vicunas to the hut. Guapo +gave him a help with the mule, and in a few minutes they were all +brought up. One of them was immediately skinned, and part of it +prepared for breakfast, and our travellers ate heartily of it, as the +cold Puna air had given an edge to their appetites. + +The new-killed animals, along with the red skin of the bull, which had +been spread out on the ground at some distance from the hut, had already +attracted the condors; and four or five of these great birds were now +seen hovering in the air, evidently with the intention of alighting at +the first opportunity. + +An idea seemed to enter the head of the vaquero, while his guests were +still at breakfast, and he asked Leon if he would like to see a condor +caught. Of course Leon replied in the affirmative. What boy wouldn't +like to see a condor caught? + +The vaquero said he would gratify him with the sight, and without +staying to finish his breakfast--indeed he had had his "coceada," and +didn't care for any,--he started to his feet, and began to make +preparations for the capture. + +How he was to catch one of these great birds, Leon had not the slightest +idea. Perhaps with the "bolas," thought he. That would have done well +enough if he could only get near them; but the condors were sufficiently +shy not to let any man within reach either with bolas or guns. It is +only when they have been feasting on carrion, and have gorged themselves +to repletion, that they can be thus approached, and then they may be +even knocked over with sticks. + +At other times the condor is a shy and wary bird. No wonder either that +he is so, for, unlike most other vultures, he is hunted and killed at +all times. The vultures of most countries are respected by the people, +because they perform a valuable service in clearing away carrion; and in +many parts these birds are protected by statute. There are laws in the +Southern United States, and in several of the Spanish-American +Republics, which impose fines and penalties for killing the black +vultures (_Cathartes aura_ and _Cathartes atratus_). In some Oriental +countries, too, similar laws exist. But no statute protects the condor. +On the contrary, he is a proscribed bird, and there is a bounty on his +head, because he does great damage to the proprietors of sheep, and +llamas, and alpacos, killing and devouring the young of these animals. +His large quills, moreover, are much prized in the South American +cities, and the killing of a condor is worth something. All this will +account for the shyness of this great bird, while other vultures are +usually so tame that you may approach within a few paces of them. + +As yet the half-dozen condors hovering about kept well off from the hut; +and Leon could not understand how any one of them was to be caught. + +The vaquero, however, had a good many "dodges," and after the _ruse_ he +had just practised upon the vicunas, Leon suspected he would employ some +similar artifice with the condors. Leon was right. It was by a +stratagem the bird was to be taken. + +The vaquero laid hold of a long rope, and lifting the bull's hide upon +his shoulders, asked Guapo to follow him with the two horses. When he +had got out some four or five hundred yards from the hut, he simply +spread himself flat upon the ground, and drew the skin over him, the +fleshy side turned upward. There was a hollow in the ground about as +big as his body--in fact, a trench he had himself made for a former +occasion--and when lying in this on his back, his breast was about on a +level with the surrounding turf. His object in asking Guapo to +accompany him with the horses was simply a _ruse_ to deceive the +condors, who from their high elevation were all the while looking down +upon the plain. But the vaquero covered himself so adroitly with his +red blanket, that even their keen eyes could scarcely have noticed him; +and as Guapo afterwards left the ground with the led horses, the +vultures supposed that nothing remained but the skin, which from its +sanguinary colour to them appeared to be flesh. + +The birds had now nothing to fear from the propinquity of the hut. +There the party were all seated quietly eating their breakfast, and +apparently taking no notice of them. In a few minutes' time, therefore, +they descended lower, and lower,--and then one of the very largest +dropped upon the ground within a few feet of the hide. After surveying +it for a moment, he appeared to see nothing suspicious about it, and +hopped a little closer. Another at this moment came to the ground-- +which gave courage to the first--and this at length stalked boldly on +the hide, and began to tear at it with his great beak. + +A movement was now perceived on the part of the vaquero--the hide +"lumped" up, and at the same time the wings of the condor were seen to +play and flap about as if he wanted to rise into the air, but could not. +He was evidently held by the legs! + +The other bird had flown off at the first alarm, and the whole band were +soon soaring far upward into the blue heavens. + +Leon now expected to see the vaquero uncover himself. Not so, however, +as yet. That wily hunter had no such intention, and although he was now +in a sitting posture, grasping the legs of the condor, yet his head and +shoulders were still enveloped in the bull's hide. He knew better than +to show his naked face to the giant vulture, that at a single "peck" of +his powerful beak would have deprived him of an eye, or otherwise +injured him severely. The vaquero was aware of all this, and therefore +did not leave his hiding-place until he had firmly knotted one end of +the long cord around the shank of the bird--then slipping out at one +side, he ran off to some distance before stopping. The condor, +apparently relieved of his disagreeable company, made a sudden effort, +and rose into the air, carrying the hide after him. Leon shouted out, +for he thought the vulture had escaped; but the vaquero knew better, as +he held the other end of the cord in his hand; and the bird, partly from +the weight of the skin, and partly from a slight tug given by the +hunter, soon came heavily to the ground again. The vaquero was now +joined by Guapo; and, after some sharp manoeuvring, they succeeded +between them in passing the string through the nostrils of the condor, +by which means it was quietly conducted to the hut, and staked on the +ground in the rear--to be disposed of whenever its captor should think +fit. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE PERILS OF A PERUVIAN ROAD. + +It was as yet only an hour or so after daybreak--for the vicuna hunt had +occupied but a very short time and the capture of the condor a still +shorter. Don Pablo was anxious to be gone, as he knew he was not beyond +the reach of pursuit. A pair of the vicunas were hastily prepared, and +packed upon a llama for use upon their journey. Thus furnished, the +party resumed their route. + +The vaquero did not accompany them. He had an office to perform of far +more importance to their welfare and safety. As soon as they were gone +he let loose his four snarling curs, and taking them out to where the +pile of dead vicunas lay upon the plain, he left them there with +instructions to guard the carcasses from foxes, condors, or whatever +else might wish to make a meal off them. Then mounting, he rode off to +the place where the road leading from Cuzco ascended upon the +table-land, and having tied his horse to a bush, he climbed upon a +projecting rock and sat down. From this point he commanded a view of +the winding road to the distance of miles below him. No traveller--much +less a party of soldiers--could approach without his seeing them, even +many hours before they could get up to where he sat; and it was for that +reason he had stationed himself there. Had Don Pablo been pursued, the +faithful Indian would have galloped after and given him warning, long +before his pursuers could have reached the plain. + +He sat until sunset--contenting himself with a few leaves of coca. No +pursuer appeared in sight. He then mounted his horse, and rode back to +his solitary hut. + +Let us follow our travellers. + +They crossed the table-plain during the day, and rested that night under +the shelter of some overhanging rocks on the other side. They supped +upon part of the vicunas, and felt more cheerful, as they widened the +distance between themselves and danger. But in the morning they did not +remain longer by their camp than was necessary to get breakfast. +Half-an-hour after sunrise saw them once more on their route. + +Their road led through a pass in the mountains. At first it ascended, +and then began to go downward. They had crossed the last ridge of the +Andes, and were now descending the eastern slopes. Another day's +journey, or two at most, would bring them to the borders of that wild +forest, which stretches from the foot-hills of the Andes to the shores +of the Atlantic Ocean--that forest with scarcely a civilised settlement +throughout all its wide extent--where no roads exist--whose only paths +are rivers--whose dark jungles are in places so impenetrable that the +Indian cannot enter them, and even the fierce jaguar, embarrassed by the +thick underwood, has to take to the tree-tops in pursuit of his prey. +Another day's journey or so would bring them to the borders of the +"Montana"--for such is the name which, by a strange misapplication of +terms, has been given to this primeval wood. Yes, the Montana was +before them, and although yet distant, it could now and then be seen as +the road wound among the rocks, stretching far towards the sky like a +green and misty ocean. + +In that almost boundless region there dwelt none but the aborigines of +the soil--the wild Indians--and these only in sparse and distant bands. +Even the Spaniards in their day of glory had failed to conquer it; and +the Portuguese from the other side were not more successful. Here and +there a lone missionary attempted to wheedle the simple natives into a +belief in his monkish religion, or when able to do so _forced it upon +them_, by fire and sword! But most of these efforts, both of conquest +and conversion, had failed; and now, with the exception of some isolated +trading post, or decayed mission station, on the banks of the great +rivers, the whole "Montana" was as wild and savage as when the keels of +Columbus first ploughed the waters of the Carib Sea. + +The Spanish colonists, on the Peruvian or western border of this immense +forest, had never been able to penetrate it as colonists or settlers. +Expeditions from time to time had passed along its rivers in search of +the fabled gold country of _Manoa_, whose king each morning gave himself +a coating of gold dust, and was hence called El Dorado (the gilded); but +all these expeditions ended in mortification and defeat. The +settlements never extended beyond the _sierras_, or foot-hills of the +Andes, which stretch only a few days' journey (in some places but a +score of leagues) from the populous cities on the mountain-heights. +Even at this present time, if you travel thirty leagues eastward of the +large town of Cuzco, in the direction taken by Don Pablo, you will pass +the boundaries of civilisation, and enter a country unexplored and +altogether unknown to the people of Cuzco themselves! About the +"Montana" very little is known in the settlements of the Andes. Fierce +tribes of Indians, the jaguar, the vampire bat, swarms of mosquitoes, +and the hot atmosphere, have kept the settler, as well as the curious +traveller, out of these wooded plains. + +Don Pablo had already passed the outskirts of civilisation. Any +settlement he might find beyond would be the hut of some half-wild +Indian. There was no fear of his encountering a white face upon the +unfrequented path he had chosen, though had he gone by some other route +he might have found white settlements extending farther to the eastward. +As it was, the wilderness lay before him, and he would soon enter it. + +_And what was he to do in the wilderness_? He knew not. He had never +reflected on that. He only knew that behind him was a relentless foe +thirsting for his life. To go back was to march to certain death. He +had no thoughts of returning. That would have been madness. His +property was already confiscated--his death decreed by the vengeful +Viceroy, whose soldiers had orders to capture or slay, wherever they +should find him. His only hope, then, was to escape beyond the borders +of civilisation--to hide himself in the great Montana. Beyond this he +had formed no plan. He had scarcely thought about the future. Forward, +then, for the Montana! + +The road which our travellers followed was nothing more than a narrow +path, or "trail" formed by cattle, or by some party of Indians +occasionally passing up from the lower valleys to the mountain-heights. +It lay along the edge of a torrent that leaped and foamed over its rocky +bed. The torrent was no doubt on its way to join the greatest of +rivers, the mighty Amazon--the headwaters of which spring from all parts +of the Andes, draining the slopes of these mountains through more than +twenty degrees of latitude! + +Towards evening the little party were beginning to enter among the +mountain spurs, or foot-hills. Here the travelling grew exceedingly +difficult, the path sometimes running up a steep acclivity and then +descending into deep ravines--so deep and dark that the sun's rays +seemed hardly to enter them. The road was what Spanish-Americans term, +"_Cuesta arriba, cuesta abajo_" (up hill, down hill). + +In no part of the world are such roads to be met with as among the Andes +Mountains, both in South America and in their Mexican continuation +through the northern division of the continent. This arises from the +peculiar geological structure of these mountains. Vast clefts traverse +them, yawning far into the earth. In South America these are called +_quebradas_. You may stand on the edge of one of them and look sheer +down a precipice two thousand feet! You may fancy a whole mountain +scooped out and carried away, and yet you may have to reach the bottom +of this yawning gulf by a road which seems cut out of the face of the +cliff, or rather has been formed by a freak of Nature--for in these +countries the hand of man has done but little for the roads. Sometimes +the path traverses a ledge so narrow that scarce room is found for the +feet of your trusty mule. Sometimes a hanging bridge has to be crossed, +spanning a horrid chasm, at the bottom of which roars a foaming +torrent--the bridge itself, composed of ropes and brambles, all the +while swinging like a hammock under the tread of the affrighted +traveller! + +He who journeys through the tame scenery of European countries can form +but little idea of the wild and dangerous highways of the Andes. Even +the passes of the Alps or Carpathians are safe in comparison. On the +Peruvian road the lives of men and animals are often sacrificed. Mules +slide from the narrow ledges, or break through the frail "soga" bridges, +carrying their riders along with them, whirling through empty air to be +plunged into foaming waters or dashed on sharp rocks below. These are +accidents of continual occurrence; and yet, on account of the apathy of +the Spano-Indian races that inhabit these countries, little is done for +either roads or bridges. Every one is left to take care of himself, and +get over them as he best may. It is only now and then that positive +necessity prompts to a great effort, and then a road is repaired or a +broken bridge patched with new ropes. + +But the road that was travelled by Don Pablo had seen no repairs--there +were no bridges. It was, in fact, a mere pathway where the traveller +scrambled over rocks, or plunged into the stream, and forded or swam +across it as he best could. Sometimes it lay along the water's edge, +keeping in the bottom of the ravine; at other places no space was left +by the water, and then the path ascended and ran along some ledge +perhaps for miles, at the end of which it would again descend to the bed +of the stream. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +ENCOUNTER UPON A CLIFF. + +That night they encamped in the bottom of the ravine close to the +water's edge. They found just enough of level ground to enable them to +stretch themselves, but they were contented with that. There was +nothing for the animals to eat except the succulent, but thorny, leaves +of the _Cactus opuntia_, or the more fibrous blades of the wild agave. +This evening there were no quinoa seeds to be had, for none of these +trees grew near. Even the botanist, Don Pablo, could find no vegetable +substance that was eatable, and they would have to sup upon the vicuna +meat, without bread, potatoes, or other vegetables. Their stock of +ocas, ullucas, and macas, was quite out. They had cooked the last of +the macas for that morning's meal. + +Guapo here came to their relief. Guapo's experience went beyond the +theoretical knowledge of the botanist. Guapo knew a vegetable which was +good to eat--in fact, a most delicious vegetable when cooked with meat. +This was no other than the fleshy heart of the wild maguey (_agave_), +with part of the adhering roots. Among naked rocks, in the most barren +parts of the desert wilderness, the wild agave may be found growing in +luxuriance. Its thick, succulent blades, when split open, exude a cool +liquid, that often gives considerable relief to the thirsty traveller; +while the heart, or egg-shaped nucleus from which spring the sheathing +leaves--and even parts of the leaves themselves--when cooked with any +sort of meat, become an excellent and nourishing food. The Indians make +this use of the aloe on the high plains of Northern Mexico, among the +roving bands of the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. These people cook +them along with horse's flesh, for there the wild horse is the principal +food of whole tribes. Their mode of cooking, both the flesh and the +aloe, is by baking them together in little ovens of stones sunk in the +ground, and then heated by fire until they are nearly red-hot. The +ashes are then cleared out, the meat and vegetables placed in the ovens, +and then buried until both are sufficiently done. In fact, there is one +tribe of the Apaches who have obtained the name of "Mezcaleros," from +the fact of their eating the wild aloe, which in those countries goes +under the name of "mezcal" plant. + +In many parts of the Andes, where the soil is barren, the wild maguey is +almost the only vegetation to be seen, and in such places the Indians +use it as food. It seems to be a gift of Nature to the desert, so that +even there man may find something on which to subsist. + +Guapo with his knife had soon cleared off several large pieces of the +maguey, and these, fried along with the vicuna meat, enabled the party +to make a supper sufficiently palatable. A cup of pure water from the +cold mountain stream, sweeter than all the wine in the world, washed it +down; and they went to rest with hearts full of contentment and +gratitude. + +They rose at an early hour, and, breakfasting as they had supped, once +more took the road. + +After travelling a mile or two, the path gradually ascended along one of +those narrow ledges that shelve out from the cliff, of which we have +already spoken. They soon found themselves hundreds of feet above the +bed of the torrent, yet still hundreds of feet above them rose the wall +of dark porphyry, seamed, and scarred, and frowning. The ledge or path +was of unequal breadth--here and there forming little tables or +platforms. At other places, however, it was so narrow that those who +were mounted could look over the brink of the precipice into the +frothing water below--so narrow that no two animals could have passed +each other. These terrible passes were sometimes more than an hundred +yards in length, and not straight, but winding around buttresses of the +rock, so that one end was not visible from the other. + +On frequented roads, where such places occur, it is usual for +travellers, entering upon them, to shout, so that any one, who chances +to be coming from the opposite side, may have warning and halt. +Sometimes this warning is neglected, and two trains of mules or llamas +meet upon the ledge! Then there is a terrible scene--the drivers +quarrel--one party has to submit--their animals have to be unloaded and +dragged back by the heels to some wider part of the path, so that each +party can get past in its turn! + +Near the highest part of the road, our travellers had entered upon one +of these narrow ledges, and were proceeding along it with caution. The +trusty mule, that carried Dona Isidora and Leona, was in front, the +horse followed, and then the llamas. It is safer to ride than walk on +such occasions, especially upon mules, for these animals are more +sure-footed than the traveller himself. The horse that carried Leon, +however, was as safe as any mule. He was one of the small +Spanish-American breed, almost as sure-footed as a chamois. + +The torrent rushed and thundered beneath. It was fearful to listen and +look downward; the heads of all were giddy, and their hearts full of +fear. Guapo, alone accustomed to such dangers, was of steady nerve. He +and Don Pablo afoot were in the rear. + +They had neared the highest point of the road, where a jutting rock hid +all beyond from their view. They were already within a few paces of +this rock, when the mule--which, as we have stated, was in the front-- +suddenly stopped, showing such symptoms of terror that Dona Isidora and +the little Leona both shrieked! + +Of course all the rest came to a halt behind the terrified and trembling +mule. Don Pablo, from behind, shouted out, inquiring the cause of the +alarm; but before any answer could be given the cause became apparent to +all. Around the rock suddenly appeared the head and horns of a fierce +bull, and the next moment his whole body had come into view, while +another pair of horns and another head were seen close behind him! + +It would be difficult to describe the feelings of our travellers at that +moment. The bull came on with a determined and sullen look, until he +stood nearly head to head with the mule. The smoke of his wide steaming +nostrils was mingled with the breath of the terrified mule, and he held +his head downward, and evidently with the intention of rushing forward +upon the latter. Neither could have gone back, and of course the fierce +bull would drive the mule into the abyss. The other bull stood close +behind, ready to continue the work if the first one failed, and, +perhaps, there were many others behind! + +The mule was sensible of her danger, and, planting her hoofs firmly on +the hard rock, she clung closely to the precipice. But this would not +have served her, had not a hand interposed in her behalf. Amidst the +terrified cries of the children, the voice of Guapo was heard calling to +Don Pablo,--"Your pistols, master! give me your pistols!" + +Something glided quickly among the legs of the animals. It was the +lithe body of the Indian. In a second's time he appeared in front of +the mule. The bull was just lowering his head to charge forward--his +horns were set--the foam fell from his lips--and his eyes glanced fire +out of their dark orbs. Before he could make the rush, there came the +loud report of a pistol--a cloud of sulphury smoke--a short struggle on +the cliff--and then a dead plunge in the torrent below! + +The smoke partially cleared away; then came another crack--another +cloud--another short struggle--and another distant plash in the water! + +The smoke cleared away a second time. The two bulls were no longer to +be seen! + +Guapo, in front of the mule, now ran forward upon the ledge, and looked +round the buttress of rock. Then, turning suddenly, he waved his hand, +and shouted back-- + +"No more, master; you may come on--the road is clear!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE LONE CROSS IN THE FOREST. + +After two more days of fatiguing travel, the road parted from the bank +of the river, and ran along the ridge of a high mountain spur in a +direction at right angles to that of the Andes themselves. This spur +continued for several miles, and then ended abruptly. At the point +where it ended, the path, which for the whole of the day had been +scarcely traceable, also came to an end. They were now of course in a +forest-covered country--in the _Ceja de la Montana_--that is, the forest +that covers the foot-hills of the mountains. The forest of the plains, +which were yet lower down, is known as the "Montana" proper. + +During that day they had found the road in several places choked up with +underwood, and Guapo had to clear it with his _machete_--a sort of +half-sword, half-knife, used throughout all Spanish America, partly to +cut brushwood and partly as a weapon of defence. Where the ridge ended, +however, what had once been a road was now entirely overgrown--vines and +llianas of large size crossed the path. Evidently no one had passed for +years. A road existed no longer; the luxuriant vegetation had effaced +it. + +This is no unusual thing on the borders of the Montana. Many a +settlement had existed there in former times, and had been abandoned. +No doubt the road they had been following once led to some such +settlement that had long since fallen into ruin. + +It is a melancholy fact that the Spanish-Americans--including the +Mexican nation--have been retrograding for the last hundred years. +Settlements which they have made, and even large cities built by them, +are now deserted and in ruins; and extensive tracts of country, once +occupied by them, have become uninhabited, and have gone back to a state +of nature. Whole provinces, conquered and peopled by the followers of +Cortez and Pizarro, have within the last fifty years been retaken from +them _by the Indians_: and it would be very easy to prove, that had the +descendants of the Spanish conquerors been left to themselves, another +half century would have seen them driven from that very continent which +their forefathers so easily conquered and so cruelly kept. This +reconquest on the part of the Indian races was going on in a wholesale +way in the northern provinces of Mexico. But it is now interrupted by +the approach of another and stronger race from the East--the +Anglo-American. + +To return to our travellers. Don Pablo was not surprised that the road +had run out. He had been expecting this for miles back. What was to be +done? Of course they must halt for that night at least. Indeed it was +already near camping-time. The sun was low in the sky, and the animals +were all much jaded. The llamas could not have gone much farther. They +looked as if they should never go farther. The heat of the climate--it +had been getting warmer every hour--was too much for them. These +animals, whose native home is among the high cool mountain valleys, as +already observed, cannot live in the low tropical plains. Even as they +descended the Sierras they had shown symptoms of suffering from the heat +during all that day. Their strength was now fairly exhausted. + +The party halted. A little open space was chosen for the camp. The +animals were relieved of their burdens and tied to the trees, lest they +might stray off and be lost in the thick woods. A fire was kindled, and +part of the vicuna meat cooked for supper. + +It was not yet night when they had finished eating, and all were seated +on the ground. The countenance of the father was clouded with a +melancholy expression. Dona Isidora sat by his side and tried to cheer +him, endeavouring to force a smile into her large black eyes. The +little Leona, with her head resting on her mother's lap, overcome with +the heat and fatigue, had fallen asleep. Leon, seeing the dejected look +of his father, was silent and thoughtful. Guapo was busy with his +llamas. + +"Come, dear husband!" said the lady, trying to assume a cheerful tone, +"do not be so sad. We are now safe. Surely they will never pursue us +here." + +"They may not," mechanically replied Don Pablo; "but what then? We have +escaped death, for what purpose? Either to live like savages in these +wild woods--perhaps to be killed by savages--perhaps to die of hunger!" + +"Do not say so, Don Pablo. I have never heard that the Indians of these +parts were cruel. They will not injure poor harmless people such as we +are. And as for starving, are not these luxuriant woods filled with +roots and fruits that will sustain life a long while? You, too, know so +well what they are! Dear husband, do not despond; God will not forsake +us. He has enabled us to escape from our enemies, from fearful dangers +on our journey. Fear not! He will not leave us to perish now." + +The cheering words of his beautiful wife had their effect upon Don +Pablo. He embraced and kissed her in a transport of love and gratitude. +He felt inspired with new hope. The vigour of mind and body, that for +days had deserted him, now suddenly returned; and he sprang to his feet +evidently with some newly-formed resolution. + +The country both before and behind them was shut out from their view by +the thick foliage and underwood. A tall tree grew by the spot, with +branches down to the level of a man's head. Don Pablo approached this +tree, and seizing the branches drew himself up, and then climbed on +towards its top. When he had reached a sufficient height, to overlook +the surrounding woods, he stopped; and, resting himself upon one of the +branches, looked abroad toward the east. All the rest stood watching +him from below. + +He had been gazing but a few seconds when his face brightened up, and a +smile of satisfaction was seen to play upon his countenance. He +evidently saw something that pleased him. Isidora, impatient, called +out to him from below; but Don Pablo waved his hand to her, as if +admonishing her to be silent. + +"Have patience, love," he cried down. "I shall descend presently and +tell you all. I have good news, but be patient." + +It required a good share of patience, for Don Pablo after this remained +a full half-hour upon the tree. He was not all the time looking abroad, +however. Part of it he sat upon his perch--his head leaning forward, +and his eyes not appearing to be particularly engaged with anything. He +was busy with his thoughts, and evidently meditating on some great +project. Perhaps the going down of the sun admonished him, as much as +the desire of satisfying his wife's curiosity, but just as the bright +orb was sinking among the far tree-tops he descended. + +"Now, Don Pablo," said the fair Isidora, pretending to frown and look +angry, "you have tried our patience, have you not? Come, then, no more +mystery, but tell us all. What have you seen?" + +"Forgive me, wife; you shall know all." + +Both sat down upon the trunk of a dead tree that Guapo had felled, and +was cutting up for firewood: not that it was at all cold, but they had +now arrived in the country of the terrible _jaguar_, and it would be +necessary to keep up a blazing fire throughout the night. + +"Your words were true, love," began Don Pablo. "God has not forsaken +us. I have seen three things that have inspired me with fresh life and +hope. + +"First, I looked out upon the Montana, which I expected to see +stretching away to the horizon, like a green ocean. I saw this in fact; +but, to my surprise, I saw more. I beheld a broad river winding like an +immense serpent through the distant forest. It ran in a direction +north-east, as far as the eye could reach. Even upon the horizon I +could distinguish spots of its bright water glancing like silver under +the rays of the setting sun. My heart leaped with joy, for I recognised +a river whose existence has been doubted. It can be no other, thought +I, than the _Madre de Dios_. I have often heard that there existed such +a river in these parts, that runs on to the Amazon. A missionary is +said to have visited it, but with the destruction of the missions the +record has been lost. I have no doubt the river I have seen is the +_Madre de Dios_ of that missionary. + +"The thought of being so near the banks of this river suggested other +thoughts. At once a design entered into my mind. `We can build a +raft,' thought I, `launch it upon this noble river, and float down to +the Amazon, and thence to the mouth of the great stream itself. There +is a Portuguese settlement there--the town of Grand Para. There we +shall be safe from our foes.' + +"Such were my first thoughts on beholding the new river. I reflected +farther. `Our fortune is gone,' I reflected; `we have nothing in the +wide world--what should we do at Para, even if we arrived there in +safety? How could we attempt such a journey without provisions. It +would be impossible.' + +"My hopes fell as quickly as they had sprung up." + +"I noticed your countenance change as you sat upon the tree." + +"True, you might easily have done so: the prospect of reaching Para +penniless, and becoming a beggar in the streets--the nearer prospect of +starving in the wilderness of the Amazon--were before my mind. + +"My eyes for awhile were bent mechanically upon the green ocean of +tree-tops. All at once an object arrested them. It was a patch of +bright rose-coloured foliage, easily distinguishable amid the green +leaves that surrounded it. It was not down in the Montana--for that is +a thousand feet below us. It was upon the side of the Sierra. My eyes +glanced quickly around. I beheld other patches of similar foliage, some +of them nearly an acre in breadth. My heart again leaped with joy. I +knew well what these red spots of the forest were. They were clumps of +_cinchona_ trees--those trees that yield the celebrated febrifuge--the +Peruvian bark! + +"New ideas passed rapidly through my mind. `Our fortune is gone,' +thought I. `Here is a fortune in those valuable trees. Here is a mine +that only requires to be worked. I shall turn _cascarillero_--I shall +be a _bark-hunter_.' + +"At first I thought that we might gather the bark, and send Guapo to +sell it in the towns of the Sierra. Then the idea came into my mind +that it might be possible to collect an immense quantity, store it up, +build a great raft, float it down the rivers, and dispose of it in Para. +I knew that in this way it would more than quadruple its price--for the +traders of the Sierra purchase it from the poor cascarilleros, and have +enormous profits upon it from the larger merchants. + +"But how to live while making this store? Yes, how to live even on the +morrow? Could we support ourselves by hunting, or find sustenance from +fruits and roots, as you have suggested? This was the most important +question of all, for our present necessities far outweighed our future +prospects. + +"The very thought of our necessity caused me once more to glance over +the forest, and I continued to scan it on all sides. My eye was again +arrested, and fixed upon a point where I saw there existed a different +vegetation from any that could be seen elsewhere. There is a small +valley about five hundred feet below us. It is a sort of table valley, +and the stream along which we have been travelling runs through it, +afterwards dashing over a fall to join the river below. In this valley +I saw huge broad leaves of a brilliant yellowish green. I knew them at +once to be the leaves of the great _musaceae_, either plantains or +bananas. I thought, too, I could distinguish the form of the _yucca_ +plant. These are the certain signs of some settlement, or where one has +existed. I fancy the latter is the correct idea, as I could distinguish +neither house nor smoke. It may be some deserted Indian `chacra,' or it +may be the grounds of an old mission. In either case, we shall be +likely to find those useful plants from which we may obtain food." + +"Oh, papa! mamma!" cried Leon, running up and interrupting the +conversation. "See what is here among the trees! I declare it is a +great cross!" + +Don Pablo and Isidora walked toward the spot. There, sure enough, was a +large wooden cross planted in the ground, and leaning to one side. The +wood was much decayed, but the inscription that had been deeply cut in +the transverse beam was still legible. It was simply the Spanish +phrase:-- + +"Brazos de Dios" (The arm of God). + +Isidora took Don Pablo by the hand, and looking steadfastly in his face, +pointed to the inscription. + +"It _is_ true," said she, "God protects us!" + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE DESERTED MISSION. + +That night all went to rest with hope in their hearts, though still not +without some anxiety. + +If you reflect upon the situation in which they were placed, you will +not wonder that they were anxious about the future. Their first care +had been to fly into the wilderness, without thinking upon the +necessities they might encounter there--without reflecting that they had +made no provision of food to sustain them. It is true that in the great +Montana there are many plants and trees whose roots and fruits can be +eaten; but a traveller may go for days without finding one of these. +Indeed, to pass through this great forest, in most places, is +impossible, so completely are the creeping parasites matted and laced +together. It is necessary to keep along the rivers in a canoe or raft, +else you cannot get from place to place. You cannot even walk along the +banks of many of these rivers, as the underwood hangs into the very +water! For the same reason game is hard to be procured, and neither Don +Pablo nor Guapo were provided with proper weapons to hunt with. Don +Pablo's pistols were all the fire-arms they had, and Guapo had no other +weapon than his machete. With their present means, then, there was very +little chance of their killing any game, even should they have fallen in +with it. But they saw none as yet, except some birds, such as parrots, +macaws, and toucans, that fluttered among the leaves. No wonder, then, +they were anxious about what they should find to eat, or whether they +should find anything at all. + +Don Pablo considered the cross a good omen, or rather a good _sign_. +Some missionary must have planted it in years gone by. No doubt a +missionary station must have been near; and it was highly probable that +what he had seen in the little valley below would turn out to be the +very place where it had stood. + +As soon as it became day, therefore, Don Pablo again ascended the tree +to take the bearings of the valley, so that they should proceed towards +it. Guapo also climbed up, so that both might make sure of the route +they ought to take--for in the tangled forests of South America it is no +easy matter to reach any object, which you may have only seen at a +distance from the top of a tree. Without a compass, the traveller soon +loses his direction; and, after hours of vain exertion and devious +wandering, often finds himself at the very place from which he had +started. + +After carefully noting the direction of the valley, Don Pablo and Guapo +came down from the tree; and while the former, assisted by Leon, packed +and saddled the animals, Guapo was busy with his machete in clearing +away the brush-wood that obstructed the path. This did not turn out +such a task after all. It was only at the brow of the ridge, where the +undergrowth had choked up the way. A little farther down it was quite +passable, and the party, animals and all, were soon winding down the +Sierra towards the valley. Half-an-hour's travelling brought them to +their destination; and then a shout of joy, coming simultaneously from +all of them, announced their arrival upon the spot. + +What was it that caused them to utter this shout of joy? Before them +towered the great _musaceae_--plantains and bananas (_Musa paradisiaca_ +and _Sapientum_). There were both: their broad yellow-green and +wax-like leaves sheathing their succulent stems, and bending gracefully +over to a length of twenty feet. But beautiful as were the leaves of +these giant plants, more attractive still to the eyes of our travellers +were the huge clusters of fruit-pods that hung from beneath them. Each +of these would have weighed nearly an hundred-weight! There was food +for hundreds. These plants grew by the water's edge, in a damp soil-- +their natural habitat. Their leaves drooped over the stream. Another +plant, equally interesting, was seen farther back, in a dry place. +There were many of these ten or fifteen feet high, and as thick as a +man's wrist. This was the _yucca_ plant (_Jatropha manihot_). All of +them knew it. They knew that its roots produced the far-famed cassava. +Cassava is bread. Hurrah! the staff of life was secure! + +But, more than this, there were fruits in abundance: there were mangoes +and guavas, oranges and the celebrated cherimoya--the favourite of Peru. +There were shaddocks and sweet limes; and see! yonder is a clump of +sugar-canes, with their thin silken leaves and yellow tassels waving in +the wind. Oh, look here! Here is a coffee-shrub, with its ripe, +aromatic berries; and here is the cacao-tree (_Theobroma cacao_). +Coffee and chocolate--there was a choice of beverages! Ha! what have we +here--this plant like an orange-tree? It is a species of holly. As I +live, it is the _yerba mate_, the "Paraguay tea" (_Ilex Paraguensis_). +What shall we light upon next? + +And so the delighted travellers went on, over the ground, through the +thick-tangled weeds and convolvuli, making new discoveries at every +step. Even Guapo's favourite, the coca-shrub, was found growing among +the rest, and the eyes of the old Indian sparkled at the sight of it. + +Don Pablo's first conjecture had been right. They had arrived at the +ruin of some old missionary station, long since deserted. Some zealous +monk had planted all these plants and trees; had for years, no doubt, +tended them with care; had dreamt of establishing around this lonely +spot a great hierarchy, and making the "wilderness blossom as the rose." +An evil day had come--perhaps during the revolt of Juan Santos, or +maybe in the later revolution of Tupac Amaru. The hand of the savage +had been turned against the priest, who had fallen a victim, and his +roof--the mission-house--had been given to the flames. Not a vestige of +building was to be seen--neither stick nor stone--and had it not been +for the curious variety of vegetation collected on the spot, this once +cultivated and flourishing garden might have been taken for part of the +primeval forest. + +It must have been a long time since the place was inhabited, for great +trees and parasites had grown up in the midst of the cultivated plants. + +After the first transports of delight had to some extent subsided, a +consultation was held as to future proceedings. They were not long in +coming to a conclusion. It was resolved that a house should be built in +the middle of this wild garden, which should be, for a time at least, +their home. + +The poor llamas had made their last journey. They were to be killed. +Guapo, although reluctant to part with his old favourites, knew that +they could not live in the warm climate of the valley, and therefore +consented. Their flesh, it is true, is none of the best, but it would +taste the better that no other was to be had; and their wool and skins +would be found useful. The llamas were killed. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +THE GUACO AND THE CORAL SNAKE. + +It was Guapo himself that killed the llamas, and, having skinned them, +he cut the flesh into thin strips, and hung it upon the branches to dry +in the sun. This, of course, was necessary, as they had no salt to cure +it with; but meat well dried under a hot sun will keep good for a long +time. It is curious, that in all Spanish-American countries they +preserve most of their meat in this way, whereas in North America, among +the people of our own race, "jerked beef" (for that is the name we give +it) is very rare. Now, in Spanish America there are vast depositories +of salt--both in mines and on plains, with salt lakes--called _salinas_; +yet, for want of a proper commercial activity existing among these +people, in many places the valuable article, salt, is both scarce and +dear. In Mexico dried or "jerked" beef is called "tasajo." In Peru, as +we have stated, it is "charqui;" but mutton cured in this way is +distinguished by the name "chalona." Now as the llamas are a species of +sheep, it was "chalona" that Guapo was making out of their mutton. + +The others were not idle; Don Pablo, assisted by Leon, was clearing a +place on which they intended to build the house, while the Dona Isidora, +with her soft slender fingers (for the first time in her life, perhaps), +was acting as laundress, and the little Leona assisted her as much as +she was able. Where did they get their soap, for they had not brought +so much as a single cake along with them? But Don Pablo was too good a +botanist not to know the nature of the trees that grew around, and the +uses to which they could be applied. Near by grew a curious tree, which +is known among the Indians as the _parapara_. It was the soap-berry of +botanists (_Sapindus saponaria_), and Don Pablo knew that the bark of +the berries, when rubbed, produces a lather that will wash linen equal +to the best "Castile." Dona Isidora was not long in making a trial of +it, and found this to be true. The little round stones of the berries, +when cleared of the pulp, are very pretty, and are much used by the +missionaries in making rosaries. Leon found, dropping one of them on a +stone, that it was as elastic as a ball of India rubber, for it +rebounded several times to the height of a man's head! In the evening +they all rested from their various occupations, and seated themselves +upon the new-cleared ground, upon the trunk of a tree that had been +felled. They were one and all quite cheerful. They felt no more +apprehension of pursuit. It would have been a very revengeful enemy, +indeed, who would have followed them so far into the wilderness. They +had no fear of that. Dona Isidora had just cooked a kettle of coffee-- +they had both pots and kettles, for these were some of the utensils with +which Guapo, even in the hurry of flight, had taken the precaution to +load his llamas. This coffee turned out to be of the finest quality. +It was of a peculiar species, which has long been cultivated by the +missionaries of Peru, and which yields a very high price. It used to be +sent by the viceroys as a valued present to the kings of Spain. To +sweeten the coffee some joints of sugar-cane had been crushed, and +boiled in a rough manner; and for bread they had roasted plantains. +During the repast they were all quite merry, and pleasant jokes were +passed for the first time in many days. + +While thus engaged a singular sound fell upon their ears. It was like a +voice repeating the word "Guaco!" They all listened. "Guaco--Guaco!" +again came the voice. + +"Hola!" cried Leon, "Guapo--Guapo! there's some one calling you, Guapo. +There again!--no--it's `Guaco'--listen! `Guaco--Guaco!' What is it, I +wonder?" + +"That's the snake-bird," quietly answered Guapo, who, it must be +remembered, was a native of the Montana, and knew a great deal both +about the birds and beasts of these regions. + +"The snake-bird?" exclaimed Leon, evidently interested in the name. + +"Yes, young master!" replied Guapo; "look! yonder it goes!" + +The eyes of all were instantly turned in the direction pointed out by +Guapo. There sure enough was a bird, not much larger than a common +pigeon, but which had all the appearance of a sparrow-hawk. It was +"swallow-tailed," however, and this, with its peculiar form and the +manner of its flight, showed that it was one of the kite-hawks. When +first noticed, it was perched upon the top of a high tree, but it soon +flew to another not so high, uttering as it went, the "Guaco--Guaco!" +It then pitched itself to a still lower branch, and was evidently after +something which none of the party could see. That something, however, +soon became apparent. The ground had been cleared in a broad track down +to the water's edge, and near the middle of the open space an object was +observed in motion, making towards the weeds. That object was a snake. +It was not a large one--not more than three feet in length--and its +beautiful body, variegated with bands of black, red, and bright yellow, +glistened as it moved. Its predominating colour was a fleshy red, or +coral, from whence it has its name, for both Don Pablo and Guapo, as +soon as they saw it, pronounced it the "coral snake." Beautiful as it +appeared, all knew that it was one of the most poisonous of serpents-- +one of the most dreaded of South American reptiles. + +The first thought of Guapo and Leon was to spring up, seize upon some +weapon, and kill the creature. Don Pablo, however, restrained them. + +"Stay where you are," said he; "be patient; we shall have a scene. Look +at the hawk,--see!" + +As Don Pablo spoke, the guaco, which had hopped down to the lowest +branches of a neighbouring tree, swooped suddenly at the snake, +evidently aiming to clutch it around the neck. The latter, however, had +been too quick, and coiling itself, like a flash of lightning darted its +head out towards the bird in a threatening manner. Its eyes sparkled +with rage, and their fiery glitter could be seen even at many yards +distance. + +The bird diverged from its course, and after passing the snake, turned +and swooped again from the opposite direction. But the reptile had +shifted its body so as to meet the attack, and its threatening head once +more was reared high above its coiled body. The guaco was foiled a +second time. + +This second failure seemed to enrage the bird, as it turned at shorter +intervals, and apparently losing all fear, fluttered over the reptile, +striking both with beak and claws. The latter still kept in its coil, +but its head moved hastily from side to side, so as always to "show +front" to its active antagonist. + +After this play had continued for some time, the snake was seen to draw +in its head farther than usual, and the hawk, evidently somewhat off his +guard, deeming this a fair opportunity, pounced forward to seize it. +But he was met half way. The head of the serpent shot forward like a +rapier, and reached his breast. The hawk felt that he was wounded; and +uttering a wild scream, he flew suddenly away. + +All eyes watched him as he flew off, expecting that he would fall--for +the bite of the coral snake will kill even a man in a few minutes, and a +bird or small animal in much less time. It is not correct to say that +all of them expected to see him fall. Guapo, from experience, knew +better, and even Don Pablo, as a naturalist, had heard a strange account +of this singular bird, and was curious to witness the result. The hawk, +therefore, was narrowly watched. + +It flew directly for a tree, up against the trunk of which, and clinging +to its branches, grew a parasite or creeping plant. The latter was of +the thickness of a willow rod, with long slender leaves, of a dark green +colour. The bird did not alight upon the top of the tree, but on a +branch where it could reach the leaves of the creeper, which it began +immediately to pluck and devour. In a short while it had eaten as many +as a dozen of these long leaves, when it again took to wing, and flew +back in the direction of the snake. + +All had, for the moment, forgotten the snake, in their eagerness to +watch the movements of the bird. To their astonishment the reptile was +still in the same place, and coiled up as when last seen. This was +easily explained, however, as snakes who defend themselves in that +attitude usually remain coiled, until they are certain that their enemy +has gone away and will not return to the attack. + +The contest was now renewed with redoubled fury. The bird fought with +fresh courage, knowing that he had taken precautions against a fatal +result, while the snake defended itself with the energy of despair. +This time the battle was a short one. The guaco, using its wings, +succeeded in striking its antagonist upon the upraised head, and quickly +following up the blow, planted his talons so as to encircle the throat +of his victim. The effect of his gripe was instantly apparent. The +reptile unfolded itself, and the slender coral body was seen writhing +and twisting along the ground. But it did not remain long upon the +ground, for in a few moments the guaco rose into the air, and carried +the struggling victim into the woods to devour it at his leisure. + +Now Guapo was exceedingly pleased at what had occurred. Why? It was +not because such a scene was at all new to him. No; he had often +witnessed such, and was no longer curious upon that head. It was +something more than mere curiosity that moved Guapo. When the affair +was over, he rose from his seat, and stalking off to the place where the +bird had been seen to eat the leaves, he gathered a quantity of them, +and then returned to the fire. Don Pablo recognised them as the leaves +of a plant of the genus _Mikania_, and known popularly as the "vejuco de +guaco." Guapo knew nothing of the scientific designation of the plant, +but he had long ago been taught the valuable properties of its leaves as +an antidote against the bite of the most poisonous snakes. He had known +them to cure the bite of the cascabel (_rattle-snake_), and even of the +small spotted viper (_Echidna ocellata_), the most poisonous of all the +American snakes. + +What, then, did Guapo with the leaves of the vejuco? First, he chopped +them up as fine as he could, and then, tying them tightly in a piece of +cotton cloth, he expressed from them a quantity of juice--enough for his +purpose. That done, with the point of a knife he made small incisions +between his toes, and also upon his breast and fingers. Into each of +these incisions, even while the blood was flowing from them, he dropped +the juice of the Mikania, and rubbed it in with fresh leaves of the +plant itself; and then, with some tufts of the soft floss of the +silk-cotton tree (_Bombax ceiba_), he covered the incisions, so as to +stop the bleeding. He wound up this strange performance, by chewing +some of the leaves, and swallowing about a spoonful of the juice. This +made the "inoculation" complete, and Guapo, as he himself declared, was +now invulnerable to the bite of the most venomous serpent! + +He offered to "inoculate" the others in the same way. They at first +refused--Don Pablo among the rest--but after a day or two, when each of +the party had met with several narrow escapes from vipers, coral snakes, +and the much-dreaded "jararaca" (_craspedo-cephalus_), Don Pablo thought +it prudent that all should submit to the operation, and accordingly +Guapo "doctored" the party without more ado. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +THE PALM-WOODS. + +It happened, that upon the opposite side of the stream there was a broad +track covered with palm-trees, while not one was to be seen on that side +where they intended building their house. As these are the most +convenient trees for constructing a house to suit the hot climate of the +Montana, it appeared necessary that they should use them. But how were +they to get at them? The stream flowed between them and the camp; and +although not a large river, yet at that place it was very wide and deep, +for in the flat table valley it expanded to the dimensions of a little +lake. Below, where it issued out of the valley, it ran for some +distance in a deep cleft between rocky banks almost or quite +perpendicular, and above the valley it came dashing through an +impassable ravine. If they could only get over to cut the palms, they +knew they could roll them to the bank, and float them across the stretch +of still water. But how to get over required some consideration. Guapo +could swim like a water-dog, but Don Pablo could not; and Leon, having +been brought up as a town boy, had had but little practice, and +consequently was but a poor swimmer. What, then, was to be done, as +Guapo could not well manage the palms without help? + +After examining the stream, both above and below, no crossing place +could be found, but just at the point where it ran out of the valley, +the space between the high banks was very narrow. A good long plank +would have reached across it--had they only had one--but that they had +not. Now, upon the opposite bank there grew a tall tree. It was one of +the beautiful silk-cotton trees already mentioned. It stood upon the +very edge of the chasm. Both Don Pablo and Guapo saw at a glance that +this tree could be felled, and made to fall across the stream, so as to +form the very bridge they wanted. + +Not much time was lost about it. Guapo, tying his axe upon his +shoulders, ran up the near side, until he was opposite the still running +water; and then plunging in, swam across in a few seconds. He soon +after appeared on the opposite bank, at the root of the bombax, which he +attacked in such a manner that one who did not know what he was about +might have fancied he was angry at it. In a few minutes a great notch +appeared in the side of the tree, and Guapo continuing his sturdy blows, +made the yellow chips fly out in showers. Of course the notch was cut +on the side next the stream, so that the tree would fall in that +direction. The beaver understands that much, and Guapo had considerably +more intelligence than any beaver. + +In about half-an-hour the bombax began to creak and lean a little. Then +Don Pablo threw over a lasso, which had been brought along. Guapo +noosed one end over a high limb, and tying a stone to the other, pitched +it back to Don Pablo, who hauled it taut. Then a few cuts of the axe +broke the skin of the tree on the other side, Don Pablo pulled by the +rope, and with a loud tear and a crash, and a vast deal of crackling +among the branches, the great bombax settled into a horizontal position +across the chasm. The bridge was built. + +After all, it was no slight adventure to cross it. The rounded trunk +was anything but sure footing, and even had it been a flat plank, the +depth of the chasm--nearly an hundred feet clear--and the white roaring +torrent below, were enough to shake the stoutest nerves. All, however, +got over in safety, and proceeded up to the palm-woods. I say all--but +I mean only the male population of the new settlement. Dona Isidora and +the little Leona remained by the camp, both of them busy scraping +_yucca_ roots, to be manufactured into cassava, and then into bread. + +On arriving among the palm-trees, Don Pablo was struck with a singular +fact. He observed (indeed, he had already noticed as much from the +opposite side of the river) that instead of one species of palm, there +were not less than a dozen kinds growing in this wood. This was a very +unusual circumstance, as although two or three species are often found +together, such a varied collection as were there could only have been +made by human hands. Here, again, was recognised the work of the +missionary monk, who had no doubt planted most of the species, having +received them very likely from many distant stations of his +fellow-labourers in other parts of the Amazon valley. + +Whether Franciscan, Jesuit, or Dominican (for all three have had their +missions in this part of the world), the holy father who resided here, +thought Don Pablo, must have been an ardent horticulturist. Whether or +not he converted many Indians to his faith, he seemed to have exerted +himself to provide for their temporal necessities, for there was hardly +a useful plant or tree suitable to the climate that was not to be found +growing near the spot. Such were the reflections of Don Pablo. + +"What a variety of beautiful palms!" said he, looking around upon these +by far the fairest forms of the vegetable creation. + +Now, my boy reader, I have not the slightest doubt but that you, too, +think the palms the fairest forms of the vegetable creation. I have not +the shadow of a doubt that your heart beats joyfully at the very word +"palm;" that you love to gaze at one of these stately trees, and that +you would give all your pocket-money for an afternoon's ramble through a +real palm-wood. Would you not? Yes. I am sure of it. Now I could +tell you a great deal about palms if I would; and I would, too, if my +space and time allowed me, but neither will, alas! Why, if I were only +to give you even the shortest and dryest botanic description of all the +different palms that are known to us, that mere dry catalogue would fill +a book as big as this one! + +How many species do you think there are? Up to this time you have +thought, perhaps, there was only one, and that was the _palm-tree +itself_. Maybe you had heard of more, such as the sago-palm, the +cocoa-nut palm, the date-palm, or the cabbage-palm; and you fancied +there might be others--perhaps as many as a dozen! Now you will hardly +credit me when I tell you that we know of no less than _six hundred +species of palms_, all differing from each other! I may add, further, +that it is my belief that there exist on the earth as many more--that +is, the enormous number of twelve hundred. The reason why I entertain +this belief is, that in all cases where similar guesses have been +hazarded--whether with regard to plants, or birds, or _mammalia_--they +have eventually proved far below the mark; and as the palm countries are +the very regions of the earth least known and least explored by +botanists, it is but reasonable to conclude that great numbers of +species have never yet been described, nor even seen. Another fact +which strengthens this probability is, that peculiar species of palms +are sometimes found only in a limited district, and nowhere else in the +same country. A small river even sometimes forms the boundary-line of a +species; and although whole groves may be seen on the one side, not a +tree of the same sort grows on the other. Some botanists even +prognosticate that more than two thousand species of palms will yet +become known. Of the six hundred species known, about half belong to +the Old World, and half to America. In America they are chiefly found +growing on the Continent--although several species are natives of the +West India Islands--while on the Eastern hemisphere the greatest number +of species belong to the islands. + +I might tell you a great deal of the importance of these noble trees to +the human race, for they are as useful as they are beautiful. Almost +every sort has its particular use in the economy of human life. Not +only do they serve certain purposes in Africa, Asia, America, and +Oceanica, but in all these divisions of the earth there are whole +nations who _live almost exclusively_ upon one or another species of +palm. + +A discovery has lately been made in regard to an African species, which +it is to be hoped will have an important influence in doing away with +the infamous slave traffic so long existing in that unhappy country. +You have heard of _palm-oil_. Well, it is extracted from the nuts of a +species of palm. The oil is no new discovery, but it is only lately +that it has been found to be as quite as good for the manufacture of +candles as either spermaceti or wax. The consequence has been a great +increase in the traffic of this article on the western coast of Africa; +and the native princes, finding that it is more profitable than +slave-selling, have in many parts given up the last-named atrocious +commerce, and have taken to gathering palm-oil. If a palm-tree can +effect what has baffled the skill of the combined philanthropists and +powers of Europe, then, indeed, we shall say, "All honour to the noble +palms." + +But I might go on talking of palms until our little volume came to an +end. I must, therefore, no longer speak generally of these beautiful +trees, but confine myself to such species as came under the observation, +and ministered to the wants, of the new settlers. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +A HOUSE OF PALMS. + +The first species of palms that attracted the observation of Don Pablo +and his party, was that known as the "patawa" palm. It belongs to the +genus _Cenocarpus_. There are several species of this genus in South +America, but none more beautiful than the "patawa." It is a palm with a +straight smooth stem, and pinnate leaves--the stem being sixty feet in +height, and about a foot in diameter. The stem becomes smooth only in +old trees. In the young ones, and even in those that stand in a thick +shady forest, it presents a very shaggy appearance, and is completely +hidden by the bases of the old leaves that have decayed and fallen off. +From the margins of these bases grow spinous processes of nearly three +feet in length, which point upward. These are used by the Indians to +make the arrows of their "blow-guns," of which more hereafter. From the +fruits of this palm a most delicious drink is manufactured with very +little trouble. The fruit itself is about the size of a plum, but of an +oval shape and deep violet colour. It grows in large clusters just +under the leaves. To make the drink, the fruits are thrown into a +vessel of hot water, where they remain for a few minutes until the pulp +becomes soft. The hot water is next poured off, and cold water is +substituted. In this the fruits are crushed and rubbed with the hands +until all the pulp is washed from the stones. The liquid is then +strained so as to separate the stones and other substances, when it is +ready for use, and a most luxurious beverage it is,--in its taste +bearing some resemblance to filberts and cream. + +A palm called the "assai" has a small sloe-like fruit which produces a +similar beverage--thick and creamy, and of a fine plum colour. In all +the Portuguese settlements the "assai" is a favourite drink, and is +taken along with cassava bread, as we use milk or coffee. + +It was not on account of its fruit, however, that Don Pablo rejoiced at +beholding the "patawa" palms. Perhaps Leon thought more about the rich +clusters of oval plums, but his father looked only to the straight +smooth stems which were designed for corner-posts, beams, and the +heavier woodwork of the house. + +In a few minutes Guapo was busy with his axe, and one after another fell +the princely trunks of the "patawa" until enough were cut down for their +purpose. + +Don Pablo next looked out for some palm of a more slender trunk for the +rafters and joists. + +This was soon found in the "catinga," which is a species of the "assai" +palm (_Euterpe_), the one of which we have just spoken as producing the +"assai wine." The catinga was the very thing for the rafters. It is +tall, nearly forty feet high, but quite slender. It is one of the +smooth palms, with pinnate leaves, not unlike those of the "patawa." +There is a peculiarity about its top,--that is, there is a column or +sheath of several feet in length, out of which the leaves spring, and, +at the lower end of this column, and not immediately at the root of the +leaves, the fruit clusters grow. This sheathing column is of a red +colour, which gives the tree a strange look. Another peculiarity of the +catinga is that its roots grow out of the ground, and from a little cone +from the top of which rises the stem. The fruits of this sort are +smaller than the true assai, but a drink is also made from them which +some people consider more delicious than that either of the assai or +patawa. The rafters then were got from the catinga. + +Now for the thatch, that was the next consideration. + +"Master!" cried Guapo, pointing off into the woods. "Yonder's +`bussu,'--very thing for thatch!" + +Guapo indicated a very singular-looking tree, with a thick, clumsy, +crooked, and deeply ringed stem. It was not a bit like either of the +palm-trees they had already cut down. Its trunk was not over ten or a +dozen feet high, but then, such leaves! They were not pinnated like +those already described, but what is termed "entire," that is, all in +one piece, and thirty feet in length by full five in width! Fancy two +or three dozen of these gigantic leaves standing up almost erect from +the top of the thick trunk, and you may form some idea of the "bussu" +palm. There are many palm-trees whose leaves are used for thatching +houses, but of all others for that purpose the bussu is the best. These +great fronds have a mid-rib, and from this, on both sides, run veins in +a diagonal direction to the edge. When they are used for thatch the +leaf is split up the mid-rib, and then each half is laid upon the +rafters, not straight, but in such a way that the veins of the leaf will +lie in a vertical direction, and thus serve as gutters to guide the +rain-water down the roof. A very few leaves will thatch a house, and a +covering of this kind, when properly laid on, will last for ten or +twelve years. So much are the bussu-leaves prized for thatch, that the +Indians, in parts where this palm does not grow, often make a canoe +voyage of a week to procure them! + +The spathe which contains the flowers is also put to many uses. It is +of a long spindle shape, of fibrous, cloth-like texture, and brown +colour. The Indians use it as cloth. It makes an excellent bag, in +which the native carries his paints or other articles; and a large one, +stretched out, makes a very comfortable cap. Indeed, Guapo used the +first spathe he laid his hands upon for this very purpose. + +There remained now to be found some palm-tree that would split easily, +and make laths for the roof, as well as planks for the door, shelves, +and benches. They soon discovered the very palm for these purposes. It +was one of the genus _Iriartea_, and known as the "pashiuba" palm. It +was a tree that differed from all the others in its aspect. It was a +noble-looking tree, rising with a smooth stem, to the height of seventy +feet. At its top, there was a sheathing column swollen larger than the +stem, and not unlike the sheathing column of the catinga already +mentioned, except that that of the pashiuba was of a deep green colour. +Its leaves, however, differed materially from those of the catinga. It +is true, that, like them, they were pinnate, but the leaflets, instead +of being slender and tapering, were of a triangular shape, notched along +the edges, and not growing very regularly out from the mid-rib. Their +general arrangement, as well as the form, therefore, gave the tree a +different, and, perhaps, more beautiful aspect. But the most singular +characteristic of the pashiuba was its roots. I have said that the +roots of the catinga rose above the surface of the soil. So did they, +but only to a limited height, forming a little cone. Now the roots of +the pashiuba stood up to the height of ten or a dozen feet! Each root +was nearly straight in itself, but there were a number of them, and they +sloped upwards so as to make a sort of pyramid, out of the apex of which +grew the stem. There were wide spaces between the roots--so wide that +you could easily pass through, and a full-grown man might stand upright +with his head under the very base of the stem. Fancy a man standing +under the trunk of a tree that rose seventy feet above his head! + +There were young trees of the same species growing around, and these +were miniature models of the older ones. Sometimes these lesser ones +are supported on three roots, like the tripod of a surveyor's compass, +and this gives them a somewhat ludicrous appearance. There are many +species of this sort of palms, which are classed under the genus +_Iriartea_. In most of them the fruit, which is small oval and red or +yellow, is bitter and uneatable; but their wood is prized for many +purposes. The wood of the species which Don Pablo had found is hard on +the outside, but soft within, and splits readier into laths and planks +than any other kind of palm. + +Guapo attacked the roots with his axe, and enough trunks were soon +felled to make laths, doors, and all sorts of benches. + +The different kinds were now collected on the edge of the stream, and +were tied together by a rope-like, creeping plant, called a "Sipo," so +that they formed a rude raft. The leaves of the "bussu," with great +clusters of the fruits of the catinga and patawa, were laid upon the +raft; and then, Guapo, mounting himself on top of all, pushed out with +his long pole, and ferried the whole across. The others walked round by +the bridge, and were just in time to assist Guapo in mooring his +somewhat unwieldy craft. + +Next day the framework of the house was put up, and on the day after the +walls. These were made of bamboo-canes (_Bambusa guadua_), plenty of +which grew near the bottom of the valley. They grew wild, for the +slopes of the Andes are the favourite soil of these gigantic grasses. +They were set on end, side by side, and then tied to each other and to +the beams of palm-trees. On the third day the "bussu" leaves were laid +on, and the house was finished. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +TRACKING THE TAPIR. + +It has been already mentioned that the stream in front of the house was +wider than at other parts, forming a sort of lake. There was a slow +current down the middle, but at the sides the water was nearly stagnant, +and there grew in some places bunches of flags interspersed with +beautiful white lilies. Among these could be distinguished that +gigantic _nympha_ so celebrated under the name of _Victoria regia_--for +South America is the native country of this rare plant. + +Every night, as our party were resting from their labours, they heard +strange noises proceeding from the water. There was plunging and +plashing, and now and then a snorting sound like that sometimes uttered +by frightened swine. Perhaps it would have puzzled any of them to tell +whence these sounds proceeded, or what animal gave utterance to them, +for there could be no doubt they were caused by an animal. Some of them +guessed "alligators;" but that was not a correct guess, for although +there are plenty of alligators in all the rivers of tropical America, +there seemed to be none in that particular place. In truth, they might +have remained long in the dark about what creature they thus heard +sweltering about nightly, for they could neither see nor hear anything +of it in the day; but Guapo, who knew every sound of the Montana, +enlightened them at once. Guapo had been a keen _tapir-hunter_ in his +time, and understood all the habits of that strange animal. It was a +tapir, then, which they had heard taking his regular nightly bath, and +regaling himself on the roots of the flags and _nymphae_. + +Have you ever seen a tapir? Not a living one, I fancy; perhaps the skin +of one in a museum. He is an interesting creature, for this reason-- +that he is the largest land animal indigenous to South America. The +llama and guanaco stand higher, because their legs are longer, but they +are far inferior to the tapir in bulk and weight: while the bears of +South America, of which there are two or three species, are small-sized +bears, and therefore less than the tapir. In fact, no very large land +animals were found indigenous in the southern division of the American +continent. There were none of the _bovine_ tribe, as the buffalo and +musk-ox of North America; and no large deer, as the elk and moose of the +Northern latitudes. The deer of South America, of which there are +several undescribed species, are all small animals. The tapir, then, in +point of size takes precedence in the South-American _fauna_. + +His rounded body gives him some resemblance to a great hog, or a donkey +with its hair shaved off; but, in fact, he is not very like either; he +is more like a _tapir_ than anything else--that is, he is a creature +_sui generis_. Perhaps, if you were to shave a large donkey, cut off +most part of his ears and tail, shorten his limbs--and, if possible, +make them stouter and clumsier--lengthen his upper jaw so that it should +protrude over the under one into a prolonged curving snout, and then +give him a coat of blackish-brown paint, you would get something not +unlike a tapir. To complete the resemblance, however, you would have to +continue the erect mane over the forehead, between the ears, and down to +the level of the eyes, which would give that crested appearance that +characterises the tapir. Instead of hoofs, moreover, you would give +your donkey large toes--four upon the fore feet, and upon the hind ones +three. A little silky hair upon the stumped tail, and a few thinly +scattered hairs of a brown colour over the body, would make the likeness +still more striking; and it would be necessary, too, that the donkey be +one of the very biggest kind to be as big as a big tapir. + +The tapir is a harmless creature, and although it has a good set of +teeth, it never uses them for the purpose of defending itself. When +attacked by either men or fierce animals, it tries to escape by flight, +and if that fails, submits to be killed; but there is no "light" to be +got out of a tapir. + +The tapir leads a very solitary life, being met with alone, or sometimes +in the company of the female. The latter has but one young at a birth, +which follows her until able to provide for itself; when they associate +no longer together, but part company, each taking its own way. + +This animal is called amphibious, because it spends part of its time in +the water; but, although it has been called the American representative +of the rhinoceros and hippopotamus, it is not so much a water animal as +either of these. It seeks its food in the river, or the marshes that +border it, and can remain for several minutes under water; but for all +that most of its time is passed on dry land. It sleeps during the day +in some dry spot upon a bed of withered leaves, from whence it sallies +every evening, and makes to the marshy banks of some well-known stream. +It frequently leaves its lair during rain, and goes in search of food. +Like hogs it is very fond of wallowing in a muddy place; but, unlike +these slovenly animals, it does not return to its bed until it has +plunged into the clear water, and thoroughly purified itself of the mud. + +One habit of the tapir--and an unfortunate one for itself--is that in +going its rounds it always follows the old track. In this way a path is +soon formed from its lair to its feeding-place, so conspicuous that a +hunter might trail it upon the run. It is easy, therefore, to "waylay" +a tapir. Guapo knew this well, and had already, while over among the +palms, marked the track of the one that came nightly to the stream, and +had settled it in his mind that that particular tapir had not many days +to live. In fact, Leon coaxed him to fix the tapir-hunt for the next +morning, which Guapo, with Don Pablo's permission, accordingly did. +Guapo was anxious as any of them to kill the tapir, for, like many +Indians, he was fond of its flesh, though that is by no means a +palatable article of food. On the contrary, it is dry, and to most +people tastes disagreeably. Guapo, however, liked it exceedingly; and, +moreover, he wanted the tough skin for some purpose of his own. The +wild Indians value the skin highly, as it is the best thing they can +procure for "viches," or shields, to ward off the poisoned arrows of +their enemies. + +Next morning, an hour or so after daybreak, Guapo started for the hunt, +accompanied by Leon. Don Pablo remained at home with his wife and the +little Leona. Now, had the tapir-hunter possessed a gun, or even a bow +and arrows, his plan of proceeding would have been different, and he +would no doubt have chosen a different hour for the hunt. He would have +chosen the twilight of the evening or morning, and would have hid +himself in the bushes, so as to command a view of the track which the +tapir would be certain to take on his way to or from the water. He +would then have simply shot the creature as it was going past; but this +is not so easy a matter neither, for the tapir, fearful of enemies while +on land, always travels at a trot. As Guapo had neither bow nor gun, +nothing in fact but his _machete_, how was he to get near enough to use +this weapon? Clumsy-looking as the tapir certainly is, he can shuffle +over the ground faster than the fastest Indian. + +Guapo knew all this, but he also knew a stratagem by which the +amphibious brute could be outwitted, and this stratagem he designed +putting in practice. For the purpose he carried another weapon besides +the _machete_. That weapon was a very pacific one--it was a _spade_! +Fortunately he had one which he had brought with him from the mountains. + +Now what did Guapo mean to do with the spade? The tapir is not a +burrowing animal, and therefore would not require to be "dug out." We +shall presently see what use was made of the spade. + +After crossing the bridge, and getting well round among the palms, the +hunter came upon a path well tracked into the mud. It was the path of +the tapir,--that could be easily seen. There were the broad footmarks-- +some with three, and others with four toes--and there, too, were places +where the animal had "wallowed." The tracks were quite fresh, and made, +as Guapo said, not an hour before they had arrived on the spot. + +This was just what the tapir-hunter wanted; and, choosing a place where +the track ran between two palm-trees, and could not well have gone round +either of them, he halted, rested his _machete_ against a tree, and took +a determined hold of the spade. Leon now began to see what use he +intended to make of the spade. He was _going to dig a pit_! + +That was, in fact, the very thing he was going to do, and in less than +an hour, with the help of Leon, it was done--the latter carrying away +the earth upon "bussu" leaves as fast as Guapo shovelled it out. When +the pit was sunk to what Guapo considered a sufficient depth, he came +out of it; and then choosing some slender poles, with palm-leaves, +branches, and grass, he covered it in such a manner that a fox himself +would not have known it to be a pit-trap. But such it was--wide enough +and deep enough, as Guapo deemed, to entrap the largest tapir. + +It now only remained to get the tapir into it, but therein lay the +difficulty. Leon could not understand how this was to be managed. He +knew that at night, as the animal was on its way to the water, it might +step on the covering, and fall in. But Guapo had promised him that he +should see the tapir trapped in an hour's time. Guapo had a plan of his +own for bringing it that way, and he at once proceeded to put his plan +into execution. + +They started along the trail going _from_ the water, and towards the +lair of the beast. The hunter knew it would not be very distant-- +perhaps a quarter or half a mile, perhaps less. Before starting he +cautioned Leon to keep close behind him, and not to make the least +noise. So little as a whisper or the rustling of the brush, he alleged, +might spoil all his plans. Guapo marched, or rather crouched, along; at +first freely, but after some time his step grew more stealthy and +cautious. He knew that he was getting near to the sleeping victim. +After stopping and repeating his caution to his companion, he proceeded +as before until they had got better than a quarter of a mile from the +water. Here they began to ascend a gentle hill, where the ground was +dry, and strewed with fallen trees. At some places the trail was +difficult to make out, and Leon would soon have lost it had he been left +to himself. But there was no fear of Guapo losing it. A hound could +not have followed it more surely. + +Suddenly Guapo stopped--then went on a few steps--then stopped a second +time, and made a sign for Leon to come up. Without speaking, he pointed +to a little thicket of scrubby bushes, through the leaves of which they +could just make out some large brown object perfectly at rest. That was +the tapir himself--sound asleep. + +Guapo had already instructed his companion that when they should arrive +near the den of the animal, they were to make a wide circuit around-- +Leon going one way, while he himself took the other. Both now drew back +a little, and then parted--the hunter going to one side, and Leon in the +opposite direction. After making their circuit, they met at some +distance beyond the back of the den; and then Guapo, telling the other +to follow him, and, without observing any further caution, walked +straight towards where the tapir lay. The Indian knew by experience +that the latter, when roused, would make directly along its accustomed +trail to the water, for to the water it always flies when alarmed by an +enemy. When they had got within a few paces of the den, a movement was +seen among the leaves--then a crackling noise was heard, as the huge +body of the animal broke through the bushes, and took to flight. He did +not trot according to his usual gait, but went off in a gallop, with his +head carried in a singular and awkward manner between his fore-legs! +You have, no doubt, seen a donkey sometimes gallop in a similar style. + +Guapo bounded after, followed by Leon, who kept close at his heels. Of +course the tapir was in sight only a few seconds, but the hunter knew +that he would take the beaten track, and therefore was at no loss. They +made no unnecessary noise--lest the tapir might be frightened from its +path--but ran on in silence. + +They soon got back to the pit-fall, Guapo of course leading the way. + +"Hola!" cried the latter, when he came in sight of it, "hola, young +master! he's in the trap!" + +Sure enough he was; and the next moment they stood upon the edge of the +pit, and beheld the great brown body struggling and tumbling about at +the bottom. + +Guapo did not pause a moment, but leaped in, _machete_ in hand. He had +no fear of the animal biting him, for he knew it would not do so; but +Guapo, in his hurry, had leaped carelessly, and his foot slipping, he +fell over the smooth body of the tapir. The latter in its fright jumped +upward, and the next moment Guapo was _undermost_ at the bottom of the +pit! + +The animal had no design of trampling the hunter; but seeing that it +could easily leap out--the pit being shallowed for it by Guapo's body +and the fallen branches--it made a spring, and came out on the edge. +Leon had got round upon the side next the river, but he chanced to be on +the wrong side just then; for the heavy tapir dashing past, knocked +against him, and sent him sprawling among the trees. Before he could +recover himself, or Guapo climb out of the pit, a loud plunge in the +water announced that the animal had escaped to an element where it might +defy their pursuit. + +Both were quite crest-fallen and disappointed, but Guapo especially so. +He had prided himself very much on his skill as a tapir-hunter, and his +pride was mortified at the result. He seemed very much chagrined; and +as he and Leon returned toward the house, he stopped at intervals and +looked into the water. Then shaking his machete in a threatening +manner, cried out-- + +"Dive away, old thick-skin! Dive deep as you will, I'll have your hide +yet!" + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE POISONED ARROWS. + +The result of the tapir chase determined Guapo to have himself better +armed. There was one weapon--and a very efficient one too--which he +knew how both to make and use. That weapon was a "gravatana," or +blow-gun, sometimes called "pocuna." He had had an eye to this weapon +all along, and had already provided the materials necessary for making +it. These materials were of a varied character, and had cost him some +trouble in getting them together. + +First, then, for the blow-tube itself he had cut stems of a slender +palm-tree,--a species of _Iriartea_, but not that sort already +described. It was the _Pashiuba miri_ of the Indians. This little palm +grows to the height of from twelve to twenty feet, and is never thicker +than a man's wrist. Its roots, like the others of its genus, rise above +the ground, but only a few inches. The sterns which Guapo had chosen +were of different sizes. One was about the thickness of the handle of a +garden-rake, while the other was not over the diameter of a +walking-cane. Both were hollow in the heart, or rather they contained +pith like the alder-tree, which when forced out left a smooth bore. + +Having cut these stems to a length of about ten feet, and pushed out the +pith, Guapo inserted the smaller one into the bore of the larger, which +fitted tightly all the way--for he had chosen it of the proper thickness +to this end. The object of thus using two stems instead of one will +not, at first, be understood. It was for the purpose of making the tube +perfectly straight, as this is a most important consideration in the +gravatana. The outer and stronger stem corrected any bend that there +might be in the inner one, and they were carefully arranged so that the +one should straighten the other. Had it not been perfectly straight, +Guapo would have bound it to a post and made it so; but it happened to +come quite right without further trouble. The tube of the lesser one +was now cleaned out thoroughly, and polished by a little bunch of the +roots of a tree-fern, until it was as smooth and hard as ebony. A +mouthpiece of wood was placed at the smaller end of the tube, and a +sight was glued on the outside. This "sight" was the tooth of an +animal,--one of the long curving incisors of a rodent animal called the +"paca," which is found in most parts of tropical America. To make the +instrument look neater, Guapo had procured the tough shining bark of a +creeping plant, which he wound spirally around the outside from the +mouthpiece to the muzzle; and then the gravatana was finished. + +There was yet much to be done before it could be used. Arrows were to +be made, and a quiver in which to carry them, and poison to dip their +points in--for the arrows of the blow-gun do not kill by the wound they +inflict, but by the poison with which they are charged. + +The next thing, then, to which Guapo turned his attention was the +manufacture of the arrows. These can be made of cane, reeds, and other +kinds of wood; but the best materials for the purpose are the long +spines of the patawa palm, of which I have already spoken. These spines +grow out from the lower part of the leaf-petioles, and, in young trees +and those much sheltered, remain upon the trunk, giving it a very shaggy +appearance. They are often three feet in length, about as thick as +large wire, rather flattish, and of a black colour. To make the arrows, +Guapo cut them to the length of fifteen or eighteen inches, and then +pointed them sharply at one end. About three inches from the points he +notched them all, so that they would break in the wound rather than drop +out again, in consequence of the struggles of the animal. About two or +three inches from the thick end of the arrow Guapo wrapped lightly +around the shaft some strands of the soft silky cotton, which he had +procured from the pods of the great "ceiba," or silk-cotton tree, +already mentioned. This he fastened on with a fibre of an aloe plant-- +one of the _bromelias_; and the cotton, when thus secured, assumed a +conical or spindle shape, having its larger end toward the butt of the +arrow. When inserted into the gravatana, the swell of the cotton filled +the tube exactly,--not so tightly as to impede the passage of the arrow, +nor so loosely as to allow of "windage" when blown upon through the +mouthpiece. + +The arrows were now ready, with the exception of the poison for their +tips; and this was the most important of all, for without it both +blow-gun and arrows would have been useless weapons, indeed. But Guapo +was just the man who knew how to make this poison, and that is more than +could be said of every Indian, for it is only the "piaches" (priests, or +"medicine-men") who understand the process. Nay, more, there are even +some tribes where not an individual knows how the arrow-poison is made; +and these have to procure it by barter from others, paying a high price, +and sometimes going a great distance for it. + +This celebrated poison is known under different names, but those of +"curare", "ticuna," and "wouraly," are the principal. + +It is one of the most deadly poisons yet discovered--as much so as the +_upastiente_ of Java, or the bean of Saint Ignatius--but it is perfectly +harmless when swallowed, and, indeed, it is often taken by the Indians +as an excellent stomachic. Should it get into the blood, however, by +means of an arrow-wound, or a sore, no remedy has yet been discovered +that will cure it. Death is certain, and a death similar to that caused +by the bite of a venomous serpent. So say those who have suffered from +it, but recovered on account of their having been only slightly wounded, +or lightly inoculated with it. Let us see, then, how Guapo prepared +this deadly mixture. + +He had gone out to the forest, and returned carrying a bundle of slender +rods. They were pieces of a lliana, or creeping plant. It was the +_bejuco de curare_, or "mavacure," as it is sometimes called. The +leaves he had stripped off, and left behind as useless. Had he brought +them with him, they would have been seen to be small leaves of an +oblong-oval shape, sharp at the points, and of a whitish-green colour. +Don Pablo knew the plant to be a species of _Strychnos_. + +Guapo with his knife first scraped all the bark, as well as the alburnum +or white coating, from the rods, which last he flung away. The mixture +of bark and alburnum was next placed upon a smooth stone, and mashed +into a fibre of a yellowish colour. This done, it was gathered into a +heap, and placed within a funnel, which had already been made out of a +plantain-leaf. The funnel was a long narrow cone, and to strengthen it, +it was set within another funnel made of the thick leaf of the "bussu" +palm, and then both were supported by a framework of palm fibres. +Underneath the apex was placed a small pan--which could afterwards be +put over the fire--and then cold water was thrown into the funnel along +with the bark. A yellowish liquid soon commenced to filter and drip +into the pan, and this liquid was the _curare_, the arrow-poison. It +still required, however, to be concentrated by evaporation; and for this +purpose the pan was transferred to a slow fire, where it was kept until +the liquid became thickened by the heat. + +Another process was yet required before the curare was ready for the +arrows. It was sufficiently concentrated and deadly, but still too thin +to adhere properly to their tips, and for this purpose a mixture of some +gummy juice was necessary. This Guapo soon prepared from the large +leaves of a tree called the "kiracaguero," and poured it into the +infusion; and then the curare turned from its yellow colour to black, +and was ready for use. The change of colour was produced by the +decomposition of a hydruret of carbon; the hydrogen was burned, and the +carbon set free. + +Guapo now dipped a few of his arrows, and carefully deposited them in a +large joint of bamboo, which served as a quiver. I say _carefully_, for +had one of these arrows dropped with its poisoned point upon his naked +foot, or wounded him elsewhere, he never would have prepared any more +curare. But he handled them with care, and the remainder of the liquid +he poured into a small gourd (similar to that in which he carried his +coca-lime), which he closely corked up with a piece of the pith from a +palm. + +Don Pablo, with Dona Isidora and the children, had watched with interest +all this process. At first, they were afraid to go near, believing that +the fumes of the liquid might be injurious. This was long believed to +be the case, in consequence of the absurd tales spread abroad by the old +missionaries, and even at a later period by the traveller La Condamine. +These asserted, that when the Indians wished to make the curare poison, +they selected for this purpose the old women of the tribe, whose lives +were not deemed of any value; and that several of these always fell a +sacrifice while "cooking" the curare! This silly story is now refuted; +and Guapo not only assured his companions that there was no danger, but +even tasted the curare from time to time while in the pan, in order to +judge when it was sufficiently concentrated. This he could tell by its +taste, as it grew more and more bitter as the evaporation proceeded. +The arrow-poisons of South America are not all made from the creeping +plant, the mavacure. Among some Indian tribes a root is used called +"curare de raiz;" and with others the poison is produced by a mixture of +several species of juices from the plant _Ambihuasca_, tobacco, red +pepper, a bark called "barbasco," from a tree of the genus _Jacquinia_, +and a plant of the name "sarnango." Of all these the juice of the +_Ambihuasca_ is the most powerful ingredient, but the making of this +species of poison is a most complicated process. + +Guapo was not long in having an opportunity to test his gravatana, and +this was just what he desired, for the old Indian was not a little vain +of his skill, and he wished to make a show of it in the eyes of his +companions. His vanity, however, was the more pardonable, as he was in +reality a first-rate shot, which he proved to the satisfaction of +everybody within half-an-hour. The instrument had scarcely been +finished and laid aside, when a loud screaming and chattering was heard +in the air, and on looking up a flock of large birds was seen flying +over the heavens. They were still high up, but all of a sudden they +darted down together and alit on a tall tree that stood nearly alone. +Here they continued their chattering, only in a lower and more +confidential tone; and they could be seen, not hopping, but climbing +about, sometimes with their backs and heads turned downwards, and, in +short, clinging to the branches in every imaginable way. These birds +were all of one kind, each of them full eighteen inches in length, and +of a uniform colour over the body, which was a purple, or deep indigo-- +their beaks only being white. In the sun their plumage glistened with a +metallic lustre. They were, in fact, a rare species,--the _ana_, or +_purple macaw_. + +Without saying a word, Guapo seized his gravatana and arrows, and stole +off through the underwood towards the tree upon which the macaws had +perched. In a few minutes he stood under it, screened from the view of +the birds by the broad leaves of a plantain that happened to grow +beneath. This cover was necessary, else the macaws, which are shy +birds, might have uttered one of their wild, choral screams, and flown +off. They did not however, and Guapo had a fair chance at them. All +his movements could be observed by the party at the house, as he was on +that side of the plantain. + +He was seen to adjust an arrow into the tube, and then raise the +gravatana to his lips. Strange to say, he did not hold it as we do a +common gun,--that is, with the left hand advanced along the tube. On +the contrary, both hands were held nearly together, at the lower end, +and close to his mouth. Now, you will wonder how he could hold such a +long tube steady in this way. It is, indeed, a very difficult thing, +and much practice alone can accomplish it. As they watched him +narrowly, his chest was seen to expand, his cheeks rose with a strong +"puff," and some of them thought they could perceive the passage of the +little arrow out of the tube. However this might be, they soon after +saw something sticking in the side of one of the macaws, and could see +the bird pecking at it with its great beak, and trying to pull it out. +In this it appeared to have succeeded after a short while, for something +fell from the tree. It was the shaft with its cotton "boss" that fell +down. The point, broken off where it had been notched, was still in the +body of the bird, and was infusing the deadly venom into its veins. In +about two minutes' time the wounded bird seemed to grow giddy, and began +to stagger. It then fell over, still clutching the branch with its +strong, prehensile claws; but after hanging a moment, these too relaxed, +and the body fell heavily to the ground. It was quite dead. + +Long before it came down Guapo had pushed a fresh arrow into the tube, +and given a fresh puff through it, wounding a second of the macaws. +Then another arrow was chosen, and another victim, until several had +been shot, and the creatures upon the tree could be seen in all stages +of dying. Some, on receiving the wound, uttered a cry and flew off, but +the poison soon brought them down, and they invariably fell at no great +distance from the tree. + +At length Guapo was seen to desist, and walk boldly out from his ambush. +To the surprise of all, the remaining macaws, of which there were still +six or seven upon the tree, showed no fear of him, nor did they attempt +to fly away! This was explained, however, by their subsequent conduct; +for in a few seconds more they were seen, one by one, falling to the +ground, until not a single bird was left upon the tree. All of them had +been killed by the arrows of the blow-gun! + +Leon now ran out to assist Guapo in gathering his game. There were no +less than eight couple of them in all, and they were all quite dead-- +some of them shot in the thigh, some in the neck or wing, and others +through the body. None of them had lived over two minutes after +receiving the wound. Such is the quickness with which the "curare" does +its work! + +As a hunting instrument for most species of game the South American +Indian prefers the gravatana to any other; and with good reason. Had +Guapo been armed with a rifle or fowling-piece, he would have shot one +macaw, or perhaps a pair, and then the rest would have uttered a +tantalising scream, and winged their way out of his reach. He might +have missed the whole flock too, for on a high tree, such as that on +which they had alit, it is no easy matter to kill a macaw with a +shot-gun. Now the gravatana throws its arrow to a height of from thirty +to forty yards, and the least touch is sufficient to do the business. +Its silence, moreover, enables the hunter to repeat the shot, until +several head of game reward his skill. The Indians use it with most +effect in a vertical or upward direction; and they are always surer to +kill a bird with it when perched on a high tree, than when seated on a +low shrub or on the ground. + +As we have observed that the curare can be taken inwardly without any +danger, it will be evident to all that game killed by the poisoned +arrows may be eaten with safety. Indeed, there are many epicures in +South America who prefer it in this way; and when a chicken is wanted +for the table, these people require that it should be killed by an arrow +dipped in curare. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE MILK-TREE. + +Guapo kept his promise with the tapir, and on that very same day. +Shortly after the macaws had been brought in, little Leona, who had been +straying down by the water's edge, came running back to the house, and +in breathless haste cried out, "Mamma, mamma! what a big hog!" + +"Where, my pet?" inquired her mother, with a degree of anxiety, for she +fancied that the child might have seen some fierce beast of prey instead +of a hog. + +"In the water," replied Leona; "among the great lilies." + +"It's the tapir," cried Leon. "Carrambo! it's our tapir!" + +Guapo was busy plucking his macaws, but at the word tapir he sprang to +his feet, making the feathers fly in all directions. + +"Where, senorita?" he asked, addressing little Leona. + +"Down below," replied the child; "near the edge of the river." + +Guapo seized his gravatana, and crouched down towards the bank, with +Leon at his heels. On nearing the water, he stopped; and, with his body +half bent, looked down stream. There, sure enough, was the huge brown +beast standing with his body half out of the water, and pulling up the +roots of the flags with his great teeth and long moveable snout. It was +not likely he would return to his former den after the chase he had had; +and fancying, no doubt, that all the danger lay upon the opposite shore, +he had come to this side to browse awhile. + +Guapo cautioned Leon to remain where he was, while he himself, almost +crawling upon his belly, proceeded along the bank. In a few minutes he +was out of sight, and Leon, seeing nothing more of him, kept his eyes +sharply fixed upon the tapir. + +The latter remained quietly feeding for about ten minutes, when the boy +saw him give a little start. Perhaps, thought he, he has heard Guapo +among the weeds--for the tapir has good ears--and that was what caused +him to make the motion. The tapir stopped feeding for a moment, but +then recommenced, though evidently not with as much eagerness as before. +Presently he stopped a second time, and seemed undetermined as to +whether he should not turn and take to the clear water. In this way he +hesitated for several minutes; then, to the astonishment of Leon, his +body began to rock from side to side, and the next moment, with a +plunge, he fell heavily backward, making the waves undulate on all sides +of him. The arrow had done its work--he was dead! + +A loud shout from Guapo echoed along the river, and the Indian was seen +plunging forward to the dead tapir, which the next moment he had seized +by the leg, and was dragging towards the bank. He was here met by the +whole party, all of whom were anxious to see this rare and singular +creature. Ropes were soon attached to the legs, and Guapo, assisted by +Don Pablo and Leon, drew the huge carcass out upon the shore; and +dragged it up to the house. + +Guapo at once skinned it, carefully preserving the hide to made soles +for his sandals and other purposes; and that night all of them tried a +"tapir-steak" for supper. All, however, Guapo alone excepted, preferred +the flesh of the purple macaws, which, cooked as they were with onions +and red pepper, were excellent eating, particularly for Spanish-American +palates. Guapo had all the tapir to himself. + +The bamboo palm-house was now quite finished, and several articles of +furniture too--for during the nights both Don Pablo and his trusty man +Guapo had worked at many things. You will, no doubt, be asking where +they procured lights,--will you not? I shall tell you. One of the +loftiest and most beautiful of the palm-trees--_the wax-palm (Ceroxylon +Andicola_)--grew in these very parts, for the lower slopes of the Andes +are its favourite habitat. Out of its trunk exudes wax, which has only +to be scraped off and made into candles, that burn as well as those made +of the wax of bees. Indeed, the missionaries, in their various +religious ceremonies,--or "mummeries," as they might be better styled,-- +have always made large use of these palm-candles. Another "wax-palm," +called "Carnauba" (_Copernicia cerifera_), is found in South America. +In this one, the wax--of a pure white colour, and without any admixture +of resin--collects upon the under-side of the leaves, and can he had in +large quantities by merely stripping it off. But even, had neither of +these palms been found, they needed not to have gone without lights, for +the fruits of the "patawa," already described, when submitted to +pressure, yield a pure liquid oil, without any disagreeable smell, and +most excellent for burning in lamps. So, you see, there was no lack of +light in the cheerful cottage. + +But there were two things, you will say, still wanting--one of them a +necessary article, and the other almost so--and which could not possibly +be procured in such a place. These two things were _salt_ and _milk_. +Now there was neither a salt-mine, nor a lake, nor a drop of salt water, +nor yet either cow, goat, or ass, within scores of miles of the place, +and still they had both salt and milk! + +The milk they procured from a tree which grew in the woods close by, and +a tree so singular and celebrated, that you have no doubt heard of it +before now. It was the _palo de vaca_, or "cow-tree," called sometimes +by an equally appropriate name _arbol del leche_, or "milk-tree." It is +one of the noblest trees of the forest, rising, with its tall straight +stem, to a great height, and adorned with large oblong pointed leaves, +some of which are nearly a foot in length. It carries fruit which is +eatable, about the size of a peach, and containing one or two stones; +and the wood itself is valuable, being hard, fine-grained, and durable. +But it is the sap which gives celebrity to the tree. This is neither +more nor less than milk of a thick creamy kind, and most agreeable in +flavour. Indeed, there are many persons who prefer it to the milk of +cows, and it has been proved to be equally nutritious, the people +fattening upon it in districts where it grows. It is collected, as the +sugar-water is from the maple, simply by making a notch or incision in +the bark, and placing a vessel underneath, into which the sap runs +abundantly. It runs most freely at the hour of sunrise; and this is +also true as regards the sap of the sugar-tree, and many other trees of +that kind. Sometimes it is drunk pure as it flows from the tree; but +there are some people who, not relishing it in its thick gummy state, +dilute it with water, and strain it before using it. It is excellent +for tea or coffee, quite equal to the best cream, and of a richer +colour. When left to stand in an open vessel, a thick coagulum forms on +the top, which the natives term cheese, and which they eat in a similar +manner, and with, equal relish. Another virtue of this extraordinary +tree is that the cream, without any preparation, makes a glue for all +purposes as good as that used by cabinet-makers, and, indeed, Don Pablo +and Guapo had already availed themselves of it in this way. + +So much for the _palo de vaca_. + +It still remains for me to tell you where the _salt_ came from; and +although the milk-tree was ever so welcome, yet the salt was a thing of +still greater necessity. Indeed, the latter might be looked upon as an +indispensable article in household economy. You, my young reader, know +not what it is to be without salt. With whole sacks of this beautiful +mineral within your reach, almost as cheap as sand, you cannot fancy the +longing--the absolute craving--for it, which they feel who are for a +period deprived of it. Even the wild animals will make long journeys in +search of those salt-springs--or, as they are called, "licks"--which +exist in many places in the wilderness of America. For salt, Don Pablo +and his companions would have exchanged anything they had,--their sugar, +plantains, cocoa, coffee, or even the cassava, which was their bread. +They longed for salt, and knew not how they could get on without it. +The only substitute was the "aji," or capsicum, of which several species +grew around, and almost every dish they ate was strongly spiced with it. +But still this was not salt, and they were not contented with it. + +It was now that they found a friend in Guapo. Guapo knew that among +many of the Indian tribes the fruit of a certain species of palm was +manufactured into salt; and he knew the palm, too, if he could only get +his eyes upon it. Seeing his master and the rest so troubled upon this +head, Guapo rose one morning early and stole off among the groves of +palm, on the other side of the river. There, in a marshy place, with +its roots even growing in the water, stood the very tree,--a small palm +of about four inches in diameter and twenty to thirty feet high. It was +thicker at the base than the top, and the top itself rose several feet +above the tuft of pinnate, feathery fronds, ending in a pointed spike. +It was the "jara" palm, of the genus _Leopoldinia_. + +It was the fruits upon which Guapo bent his eyes with earnestness. Each +one was as large as a peach, of an oval shape, slightly flattened, and +of a yellowish green colour. They grew in large clusters among the +bases of the leaves; and Guapo was not long in ascending several trees-- +for the jara is a smooth-skinned palm, and can be climbed--and breaking +off the spadices, and flinging them to the ground. He had soon +collected a bag-full, with which he hurried back to the house. + +All wondered what Guapo meant to do with these fruits, for they tasted +them and found them very bitter. Guapo soon showed them his intention. +Having prepared a sort of furnace, he set the nuts on fire; and when +they were thoroughly reduced to ashes, to the great joy and astonishment +of all, these ashes, which were as white as flour, had the taste of +salt! It is true it was not equal to "Turk's Island," nor yet to "Bay" +salt, but it proved to be good enough for cooking purposes, and +satisfied the craving which all had felt for this indispensable article. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +THE CANNIBAL FISH AND THE GYMNOTUS. + +About this time an incident occurred that was very near having a fatal +termination for one of the party--Leon. The day was a very hot one, and +as the cool water looked inviting, Leon could not resist the temptation +of taking a bath. Having undressed himself, he plunged into the river +nearly in front of where the house stood, and began splashing about +quite delighted. The rest were not heeding him, as each was engaged +with some occupation within the house. + +Leon at first kept wading about in a place that was not beyond his +depth, but, by little and little, he took short swims, as he wished to +practise, and become a good swimmer like Guapo. His father had not only +given him permission, but had even advised him to do so. And it may be +here remarked that all parents would do well to take the same course +with their children and allow them to acquire this healthful and useful +art. No one can deny that thousands of lives are annually sacrificed, +because so few have taken the trouble to learn swimming. + +Well; Leon was determined to be a swimmer, and at each attempt he made a +wider stretch into the deep water, swam around, and then back again to +the bank. + +In one of these excursions, just as he had got farthest out, all at once +he felt a sharp pain as if from the bite of some animal, and then +another, and another, upon different parts of the body, as if several +sets of teeth were attacking him at once! + +Leon screamed--who wouldn't have done so?--and his scream brought the +whole household to the edge of the water in less than a score of +seconds. All of them believed that he was either drowning or attacked +by a crocodile. On arriving at the bank, however, they saw that he was +still above water, and swimming boldly for the shore--no signs of a +crocodile were to be seen! + +What was the matter? + +Of course that question was asked him by all of them in a breath. His +reply was that "he could not tell--_something was biting him all over_!" + +The quick eye of the mother now caught sight of blood--around the +swimmer the water was tinged with it--her piercing shriek rent the air. + +"O God! my child--my child! Save him--save him!" + +Both Don Pablo and Guapo dashed into the water and plunged forward to +meet him. In the next moment he was raised in their arms, but the blood +streamed down his body and limbs, apparently from a dozen wounds. As +they lifted him out of the water they saw what had caused these wounds. +A shoal of small fish, with ashy-green backs and bright orange bellies +and fins, was seen below. With large open mouths they had followed +their victim to the very surface, and now that he was lifted out of +their reach, they shot forward and attacked the legs of his rescuers, +causing Don Pablo and Guapo to dance up in the water, and make with all +haste for the bank. As soon as they had reached it, they turned round +and looked into the water. There were these blood-thirsty pursuers that +had followed them up to the very bank, and now swam about darting from +point to point, and ready for a fresh attack on any one that might enter +the water! + +"They are the `cannibal fish!'" said Guapo, in an angry tone, as he +turned to attend to Leon. "I shall punish them yet for it. Trust me, +young master, you shall be revenged!" + +Leon was now carried up to the house, and it was found that in all he +had received nearly a dozen wounds! Some of them were on the calves of +his legs, where the piece of flesh was actually taken out! Had he been +farther out in the river, when first attacked, he might never have +reached the shore alive, as the fierce creatures were gathering in far +greater numbers when he was rescued, and would most undoubtedly have +torn him to pieces and eaten him up! Such has been the fate of many +persons who have fallen among the "cannibal fish" in the midst of wide +rivers where they had no chance of escape. These ferocious little +"caribes," or "caribitos," as they are called (for the word _carib_ +signifies cannibal), lie at the bottom of rivers, and are not easily +seen; but the moment an attack is made by one of them, and a drop of +blood stains the water, the whole shoal rises to the surface, and woe to +the creature that is assailed by their sharp triangular teeth! + +Of course the wounds of Leon, although painful, were not dangerous, but +the chief danger lay in the loss of blood which was pouring from so many +veins. But Guapo found ready to his hand the best thing in the world +for stopping it. On some mimosa-trees, not far from the house, he had +already observed--indeed, so had all of them--a very singular species of +ants' nests of a yellowish brown colour. The ants themselves were of a +beautiful emerald green. They were the _Formica spinicollis_. These +nests were composed of a soft cotton-down, which the ants had collected +from a species of _Melastoma_, a handsome shrub found growing in these +regions; and this down Guapo knew to be the best for blood-stopping. +Even Don Pablo had heard of its being used by the Indians for this +purpose, and knew it by the name of "_yesca de hormigas_," or "touchwood +of ants." He had heard, moreover, that it was far superior even to the +ants' nests of Cayenne, which form an article of commerce and are highly +prized in the hospitals of Europe. Guapo, therefore, ran off and robbed +the green ants of their nests, and speedily returned with the full of +his hands of the soft "yesca." This was applied to the wounds, and in a +few minutes the bleeding was effectually stopped, and Leon, although +still suffering pain, had now only to be patient and get well. + +Strange to say, another incident occurred that very evening, which +taught our party a further lesson of the danger of taking to the water +without knowing more of its inhabitants. Just as they had finished +supper, and were seated in front of their new house, the mule, that had +been let loose, stepped into the river to drink and cool its flanks. It +was standing in the water, which came up to its belly, and, having +finished its drink, was quietly gazing around it. All at once, it was +observed to give a violent plunge, and make with hot haste for the bank. +It snorted and looked terrified, while its red nostrils were wide open, +and its eyes appeared as if they would start from their sockets. At +length it reached the bank, and, staggering forward, rolled over in the +sand, as if it was going to die! + +What could all this mean? Had it, too, been attacked by the "caribes?" +No; that was not likely, as the bite of these creatures upon the hard +shanks of the mule could not have produced such an effect. They might +have frightened it, but they could not have thrown it into "fits"--for +it was evidently in some sort of a fit at that moment. + +It might have been a puzzle to our party not easily solved, had Guapo +not been upon the spot. But Guapo had witnessed such an incident +before. Just before the mule gave the first plunge Guapo's eyes had +been wandering in that direction. He had noticed an odd-looking form +glide near the mule and pass under the animal's belly. This creature +was of a greenish-yellow colour, about five feet in length, and four or +five inches thick. It resembled some kind of water-snake more than a +fish, but Guapo knew it was not a snake, but an eel. It was the great +_electric eel_--the "temblador," or "gymnotus." + +This explained the mystery. The gymnotus, having placed itself under +the belly of the unsuspecting mule, was able to bring its body in +contact at all points, and hence the powerful shock that had created +such an effect. + +The mule, however, soon recovered, but from that time forward, no +coaxing, nor leading, nor driving, nor whipping, nor pushing, would +induce that same mule to go within twenty feet of the bank of that same +piece of water. + +Guapo now bethought himself of the narrow escape he himself had had +while swimming across to the palm-woods; and the appearance of the +gymnotus only rendered him more determined to keep the promise he had +made to Leon,--that is, that he would revenge him of the caribes. + +None of them could understand how Guapo was to get this revenge without +catching the fish, and that would be difficult to do. Guapo, however, +showed them how on the very next day. + +During that evening he made an excursion into the wood, and returned +home carrying with him a large bundle of roots. + +They were the roots of two species of plants--one of the genus +_Piscidea_, the other a _Jacquinia_. Out of these, when properly +pounded together, Guapo intended to make the celebrated "barbasco," or +fish-poison, which is used by all the Indians of South America in +capturing fish. Guapo knew that a sufficient quantity of the barbasco +thrown into the water would kill either "temblador," caribe, or any fish +that ever swam with fins. + +And so it proved. In the morning Guapo having prepared his barbasco, +proceeded to the upper end of the lake-like opening of the river, and +there flung his poison into the stream. The slow current through the +valley greatly favoured him, and from the large quantity of roots he had +used, the whole pool was soon infected with it. This was seen from the +whitish tinge which the water assumed. The barbasco had scarcely time +to sink to the bottom when small fish were seen coming to the surface, +and turning "wrong side uppermost." Then larger ones appeared, and in a +few minutes all the fish in that particular stretch of water, with +several gymnoti, were seen floating on the surface quite dead. To the +great joy of Guapo and Leon, who sat by the bank watching, hundreds of +the little caribes, with their bronze gills quite open, and their yellow +bellies turned up, were seen among the rest. + +But Guapo had not made this great slaughter purely out of revenge. He +had another object. They were not too well off for meat, and a dish of +fish would be welcome. Guapo and Don Pablo had already provided +themselves with long-handled nets, and they soon scooped out several +basketfuls of fish. Among others they netted numerous "caribes," for +these little monsters, fierce as they are, are not surpassed for +delicacy of flavour by any fish in the South American rivers. The +gymnoti approached the bank, where Guapo fished them out, not to eat-- +although they are often eaten. There was not a spark of electricity in +them now. The barbasco had cured them of that; any one might have +handled them with safety, as there was not a charge left in their whole +battery. + +The lake was quite cleared of all its dangerous denizens, and Leon might +bathe with safety, as soon as he got well; and over the fish-dinner they +could now laugh at the adventures both of Leon and the electrified mule. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +THE CINCHONA-TREES. + +In about two weeks from their arrival in the valley, the house, with a +stable for the horse and mule, was completed, and all the necessary +furniture as well. Had you entered the establishment about this time, +you would have observed many odd articles and implements, most of them +quite new. You would have seen boxes woven out of palm-leaves, and bags +made of the fibrous, cloth-like spathe of the "bussu," filled with the +soft, silky cotton of the bombax, to be afterwards spun and woven for +shirts and dresses. You would have seen baskets of various shapes and +sizes woven out of the rind of the leaf-stalks of a singular palm called +"Iu" (_Astrocaryum_), which has no stem, but only leaves of ten feet +long, growing directly out of the ground. You would have seen chairs +made of split palms and bamboo, and a goodsized table, upon which, at +meal-time, might be noticed a table-cloth, not of diaper, but, what +served equally well, the broad smooth silken leaves of the plantain. +There were cups, too, and plates, and bowls, and dishes, and bottles, of +the light gourd-shell (_Crescentia cujete_), some of the bottles holding +useful liquids, and corked with the elastic pith of a palm. Other +vessels of a boat-shape might be noticed. There were large wooden +vessels pointed at the ends like little canoes. They were nothing more +than the spathes or flower-sheaths of one of the largest of palms, the +"_Inaga_" (_Maximiliana regia_). This noble tree rises to the height of +one hundred feet, and carries feathery fronds of more than fifty feet in +length. The spathes are so large that they are used by the Indian women +for cradles and baskets; and their wood is so hard, that hunters often +cook meat in them, hanging them over the fire when filled with water! +Many other singular implements might have been noticed in the new home. +One, a cylinder of what appeared to be wood, covered thickly with +spinous points, hung against the wall. That was a grater, used for the +manioc, or yucca roots; and it was a grater of nature's own making, for +it was nothing more than a piece of one of the air roots of the +"pashiuba" palm, already described. Another curious object hung near +this last. It was a sort of conical bag, woven out of palm-fibre, with +a loop at the bottom, through which loop a strong pole was passed, that +acted as a lever when the article was in use. This wicker-work bag was +the "tipiti." Its use was to compress the grated pulp of the manioc +roots, so as to separate the juice from it, and thus make "cassava." +The roots of the yucca, or manioc plant, grow in bunches like potatoes. +Some of them are oblong--the length of a man's arm--and more than twenty +pounds in weight. When required for use, the bark is scraped off, and +they are grated down. They are then put into the tipiti, already +mentioned; and the bag is hung up to a strong pin, while the lever is +passed through the loop at the bottom. Its short end goes under a firm +notch, and then some one usually sits upon the long end until the pulp +is squeezed sufficiently dry. The bag is so formed that its extension, +by the force of the lever, causes its sides to close upon the pulp, and +thus press out the juice. The pulp is next dried in an oven, and +becomes the famous "cassava" or "farinha," which, throughout the greater +part of South America, is the only bread that is used. The juice of +course runs through the wickerwork of the _tipiti_ into a vessel below, +and there produces a sediment, which is the well-known "tapioca." + +There are two kinds of the yucca or manioc-root,--the _yucca dulce_, and +_yucca amarga_--the sweet and bitter. One may be eaten raw without +danger. The other, which very closely resembles it, if eaten raw, would +produce almost instant death, as its juice is one of the deadliest of +vegetable poisons. Even while it is dripping from the _tipiti_ into the +vessel placed below, great care is always taken lest children or other +animals should drink of it. + +There were no beds--such things are hardly to be found in any part of +tropical America--at least not in the low hot countries. To sleep in a +bed in these climates is far from being pleasant. The sleeper would be +at the mercy of a thousand crawling things,--insects and reptiles. +Hammocks, or "redes," as they are there called, take the place of +bedsteads; and five hammocks, of different dimensions, could be seen +about the new house. Some were strung up within, others in the porch in +front, for, in building his house, Don Pablo had fashioned it so that +the roof protruded in front, and formed a shaded verandah--a pleasant +place in which to enjoy the evenings. Guapo had made the hammocks, +having woven the cords out of the epidermis of the leaf of a noble palm, +called "tucum" (_Astrocaryum_). + +Their home being now sufficiently comfortable, Don Pablo began to turn +his attention to the object for which he had settled on that spot. He +had already examined the cinchona-trees, and saw that they were of the +finest species. They were, in fact, the same which have since become +celebrated as producing the "Cuzconin," and known as "_Cascarilla de +Cuzco_" (Cuzco bark). + +Of the Peruvian-bark trees there are many species,--between twenty and +thirty. Most of these are true cinchona-trees, but there are also many +kinds of the genus _Exostemma_, whose bark is collected as a febrifuge, +and passes in commerce under the name of _Peruvian bark_. All these are +of different qualities and value. Some are utterly worthless, and, like +many other kinds of "goods," form a sad commentary on the honesty of +commerce. + +The species, which grew on the sides of the adjacent hills, Don Pablo +recognised as one of the most valuable. It was a nearly-allied species +to the tree of Loxa (_Cinchona condaminea_), which produces the best +bark. It was a tall slender tree--when full grown, rising to the height +of eighty feet; but there were some of every age and size. Its leaves +were five inches long and about half that breadth, of a reddish colour, +and with a glistening surface, which rendered them easily distinguished +from the foliage of the other trees. Now it is a fortunate circumstance +that the Peruvian-bark trees differ from all others in the colour of +their leaves. Were this not the case, "bark-hunting" would be a very +troublesome operation. The labour of finding the trees would not be +repaid with double the price obtained for the bark. You may be +thinking, my young friend, that a "cascarillero," or bark-hunter, has +nothing to do but find a wood of these trees; and then the trouble of +searching is over, and nothing remains but to go to work and fell them. +So it would be, did the cinchona-trees grow together in large numbers, +but they do not. Only a few--sometimes only a single tree--will be +found in one place; and I may here remark that the same is true of most +of the trees of the great Montana of South America. This is a curious +fact, because it is a different arrangement from that made by nature in +the forests of North America. There a whole country will be covered +with timber of a single, or at most two or three species; whereas, in +South America, the forests are composed of an endless variety. Hence it +has been found difficult to establish saw-mills in these forests, as no +one timber can be conveniently furnished in sufficient quantity to make +it worth while. Some of the palms, as the great _morichi_, form an +exception to this rule. These are found in vast _palmares_, or +palm-woods, extending over large tracts of country, and monopolising the +soil to themselves. + +Don Pablo, having spent the whole of a day in examining the cinchonas, +returned home quite satisfied with them, both as regarded their quantity +and value. He saw, from a high tree which he had climbed, "_manchas_," +or spots of the glistening reddish leaves, nearly an acre in breadth. +This was a fortune in itself. Could he only collect 100,000 pounds of +this bark, and convey it down stream to the mouth of the Amazon, it +would there yield him the handsome sum of 40,000 or 50,000 dollars! How +long before he could accomplish this task he had not yet calculated; but +he resolved to set about it at once. + +A large house had been already constructed for storing the bark, and in +the dry hot climate of the high Montana, where they now were, Don Pablo +knew it could be dried in the woods, where it was stripped from the +trees. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A PAIR OF SLOW GOERS. + +At length, all things being ready, Don Pablo and party set out for a +day's work among the cinchonas. As it was the first day of +bark-gathering all went along to enjoy the novelty of the thing. A +"mancha" of the cinchona-trees was not far off, so their journey would +be a short one. For this reason, the horse and mule remained in the +stable eating the fruits of the "murumuru" palm, (another species of +_Astrocaryum_), of which all cattle are exceedingly fond. Even the hard +undigested stones or nuts, after passing through the bodies of horses +and cattle, are eagerly devoured by wild or tame hogs, and the zamuros, +or black vultures (_Cathartes aura_ and _atratus_), when hungered, take +to the pulpy fruit of this thorny palm-tree. + +It was a very early hour when they set out, for Don Pablo and his people +were no sluggards. Indeed, in that climate, the early morning hours are +the pleasantest, and they had made it a rule to be always up by +daybreak. They could thus afford to take a _siesta_ in their hammocks +during the hot noontide,--a custom very common, and almost necessary, in +tropical countries. Their road to the cinchonas led up the stream, on +the same side with the house. After going a few hundred yards, they +entered a grove of trees that had white trunks and leaves of a light +silvery colour. The straight, slender stems of these trees, and the +disposition of their branches,--leaning over at the tops,--gave them +somewhat the appearance of palms. They were not palms, however, but +"ambaiba" trees (_Cecropia peltata_). So said Don Pablo, as they passed +under their shade. + +"I shouldn't wonder," added he, "if we should see that strange animal +the ai. The leaves of these trees are its favourite food, and it lives +altogether among their branches." + +"You mean the `nimble Peter,' do you not, papa?" + +This inquiry was put by Leon, who had read about the animal under this +name, and had read many false stories of it, even in the works of the +great Buffon. + +"Yes," replied Don Pablo; "it goes by that name sometimes, on account of +its sluggish habits and slow motions. For the same reason the English +call it `sloth,' and it is known among naturalists as _bradypus_. There +are two or three species, but all with very similar habits, though, as +usual, the French classifiers have separated them into distinct genera." + +"Why, Buffon says," rejoined Leon, "that it is the most miserable +creature in the world; that it can scarcely get from tree to tree; that +some remain in the same tree all their lives, or, that when one has +eaten all the leaves off a tree, it drops to the ground, to save itself +the trouble of getting down by the trunk, and, that when on the ground +it cannot move a yard in an hour! Is all this true?" + +"Totally untrue. It is true the ai does not move rapidly over the +ground, but the ground is not its proper place, no more than it is that +of the orang-outang, or other tree-monkeys. Its conformation shows that +nature intended it for an inhabitant of the trees, where it can move +about with sufficient ease to procure its food. On the branches it is +quite at home, or, rather, I should say, _under_ the branches, for, +unlike the squirrels and monkeys, it travels along the under sides of +the horizontal limbs, with its back downward. This it can do with ease, +by means of its great curving claws, which are large enough to span the +thickest boughs. In this position, with a long neck of _nine +vertebrae_,--the only animal which has that number,--it can reach the +leaves on all sides of it; and, when not feeding, this is its natural +position of repose. Its remaining during its whole life in one tree, or +suffering itself to fall from the branches, are romances of the early +Spanish voyagers, to which Monsieur Buffon gave too much credit. The ai +does not descend to the ground at all when it can help it, but passes +from one tree to another by means of the outspreading branches. +Sometimes, when these do not meet, it has cunning enough to wait for a +windy day, and then, taking advantage of some branch blown nearer by the +wind, it grasps it and passes to the next tree. As it requires no +drink, and can live without any other food than the leaves of the +cecropia, of course it remains on a single tree so long as it has plenty +of leaves. See!" exclaimed Don Pablo, pointing up; "here are several +trees stripped of their leaves! I'll warrant that was done by the ai." + +"_A-ee_!" echoed a voice in the most lugubrious tones. + +"I thought so," cried Don Pablo, laughing at the surprise which the +voice had created among the rest of the party. "That's the very fellow +himself,--this way,--here he is!" + +All of them ran under the tree to which Don Pablo pointed, and looked +up. There, sure enough, was an animal about the size of a cat, of a +dark hay colour, with a patch of dirty orange and black upon the back. +This could be easily seen, for the creature was hanging along a +horizontal branch with its back downward, and its huge curving claws, +all in a bunch, were hooked over the branch. Its hair was thick and +rough, and no tail was visible, but its small round head and flat face +was almost as like the human face as is that of any monkey. Indeed, the +others would have taken it for a monkey,--Guapo excepted,--had they not +been already talking about it. + +"Oh, yonder's another!" cried Leon, pointing higher up in the tree; and, +sure enough, there was, for the ai is usually found in company with its +mate. The other was a copy of the one already observed, with some +slight difference in size--no doubt it was the female one. Both had +observed the approach of the party, and now uttered their melancholy +"Ayee--a-ee!" that sounded anything but agreeable. In fact, so very +disagreeable is the voice of this creature, that it has been considered +its best weapon of defence. Beside the utterance of their cry, neither +of them made any effort to escape or defend themselves. + +Don Pablo and the rest were about to pass on and leave the ais to their +leaf diet, but Guapo had other notions on that subject. Ugly as these +creatures were, Guapo intended to have one of them for his dinner. He, +therefore, begged Don Pablo to stop a moment until he should get them +down. How was this to be done? Would he climb up and drag them from +the tree? That is not so easily accomplished, for the ais, with their +crescent claws, can hold on with terrible force. Besides, they were out +upon the slender branches, where it would have been difficult to get at +them. But Guapo did not intend to climb. The tree was a slender one-- +he had his axe with him--and the next moment its keen blade was crashing +through the bark of the ambaia wood. A few minutes served to bring the +tree down, and down it came, the ais screaming as it fell. Guapo now +approached to seize them, but about this he used some caution. Both +finding themselves without hope of escape, prepared for defence. Buffon +asserts that they make none. That is not true, as was seen by all the +party. Throwing themselves on their backs, they struck out with their +fore-arms in a sort of mechanical manner. These with the long horny +claws they kept playing in front of their bodies, striking alternately +with them, and rapidly, as a dog will do when suddenly plunged into +water. Guapo did not put his hands near them. He knew they would not +bite, but he also knew that he might get a scratch with the sharp claws, +and that he did not wish for. But Guapo had a way to take them, and +that he now put in practice. Lopping a couple of branches from the +tree, he held one out to each of the ais, and touched them with it on +the breast. Each, as soon as it felt the branch, clutched it tightly +between its powerful fore-arms and held on as if for life and death. It +would have taken a stronger man than Guapo to have pulled either of the +branches away again. The thing was now done. Giving his axe to Leon to +carry for him, Guapo lifted an ai, still clinging to the branch, in each +hand, and carried them off as if they had been a pair of water-pots. He +did not wish to kill them until he got them home, alleging that they +were better for eating when freshly butchered. + +The bark-hunters now continued their route, and shortly after entered a +little glade or opening in the forest, about an acre in size. When they +had reached the middle of this, Guapo threw his ais upon the ground and +marched on. + +"Why do you leave them?" inquired the others. + +"No fear for them," replied Guapo; "they'll be there when we come back. +If I carried them into the woods, they might steal off while we were at +work, but it would take them six hours to get to the nearest tree." + +All laughed at this, and went on, leaving the ais to themselves. Before +passing out from the glade, they stopped a moment to look at the great, +conical nests of the termites, or white ants, several of which, like +soldiers' tents, stood near the edge of the glade. It was yet early, +the air was chilly, and the ants were not abroad; so that, after gazing +for a while on these singular habitations, the bark-gatherers pursued +their way, and were soon under the shadow of the cinchona-trees. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +THE BARK-HUNTERS. + +In a few minutes the work began--that work which was to occupy them, +perhaps, for several years. The first blow of Guapo's axe was the +signal to begin the making of a fortune. It was followed by many +others, until one of the cinchonas lay along the sward. Then Guapo +attacked another, as near the root as was convenient for chopping. + +Don Pablo's part of the work now began. Armed with a sharp knife, he +made circular incisions round the trunk, at the distance of several feet +from each other, and a single longitudinal one intersecting all the +others. The branches were also served in a similar way, and then the +tree was left as it lay. In three or four days they would return to +strip off the bark both from trunk and branches, and this would be +spread out under the sun to dry. When light and dry it would be carried +to the store-house. So the work went merrily on. The trees were taken +as they stood--the very young ones alone being left, as the bark of +these is useless for commerce. + +The Dona Isidora sat upon a fallen trunk, and, conversing with her +husband, watched the proceedings with interest. A new and happy future +seemed at no great distance off. Little Leona stood beside Guapo, +watching the yellow chips as they flew, and listening to some very fine +stories with which Guapo was regaling her. Guapo loved little Leona. +He would have risked his life for her, would Guapo, and Leona knew it. + +Leon was not particularly engaged on that day. When the bark was ready +for peeling he intended to take a hand with the rest. He could then +employ himself in spreading it, or could lead the mule in carrying it to +the storehouse. Leon did not intend to be idle, but there happened to +be no work for him just then; and after watching the bark-cutters for +awhile, he sauntered back along the path, in order to have a little fun +with the ais. Leon had no very great confidence that he would find them +in the place where they had been left, and yet he believed in Guapo. +But it was hard to understand that two animals, each endowed with a full +set of legs and feet, should not be able to make their way for a +distance of twenty paces, and escape! After the rough handling they had +had, too! He would have a peep at them, anyhow, to see how they were +coming on. So back he went. + +On getting near the glade their voices reached him. They were there, +after all! He could hear them utter their pitiful "ay-ee--ay-ee!" and, +as he thought, in a louder and more distressing tone than ever. What +could be the matter? They had been silent for some time, he was sure, +for such cries as they now uttered could have been heard easily where +the rest were. What could be the meaning of this fresh outburst? Had +some new enemy attacked them? It seemed like enough. + +Leon stole forward, and peeped into the glade. No--there was nothing +near them! But what was the matter with the creatures? Instead of +lying quietly, as they had done when left behind, they were now rolling +and tumbling backward and forward, and pitching about, and dancing first +on their feet and then on their heads, and cutting all sorts of strange +capers! Could it be for their own amusement? No; their lamentable +cries precluded that supposition; besides, their odd attitudes and +contortions bespoke terror and pain! + +"Carrambo!" muttered Leon. "What's the matter with them?" + +They seemed inclined to escape towards the trees; but, after making a +few lengths, they would fall to the ground, tumble about, and then, +getting up again, head in the opposite direction! + +Leon was puzzled,--no wonder. He looked around for a solution of this +queer conduct on the part of the ais. No explanation appeared. At +length he bethought himself of going up to them. Perhaps, when nearer, +he might learn what set them a-dancing. + +"Ha!" he ejaculated, struck with some sudden thought. "I know now; +there's a snake at them." + +This conjecture--for it was only a conjecture--caused him to stop short. +It might be some venomous snake, thought he. The grass was not long, +and he could have seen a very large snake; but still a small coral +snake, or the little poisonous viper, might have been there. He fancied +he saw something moving; but to get a better view he passed slowly +around the edge of the glade, until he was nearly on the opposite side +to that where he had entered. He still kept at a good distance from the +ais, but as yet discovered no snake. + +To his great surprise, the ais now lay stretched along the grass, their +struggles appeared each moment to grow less violent, and their +melancholy cries became weaker and weaker. Their contortions at length +came to an end. A feeble effort to raise themselves alone could be +perceived,--then a spasmodic motion of their long crooked limbs,--their +cries became indistinct; and, after a while, both lay motionless and +silent! Were they dead? Surely so, thought Leon. + +He stood gazing at them for some minutes. Not a motion of their bodies +could be perceived. Surely they no longer lived! But, then, what could +have killed them? There was no snake to be seen; no animal of any kind +except themselves! Had they been taken with some sudden disease,--some +kind of convulsions that had ended fatally? This seemed the most +probable thing, judging from the odd manner in which they had acted. +Maybe they had eaten some sort of plant that had poisoned them! + +These conjectures passed rapidly through the mind of Leon. Of course, +he resolved to satisfy himself as to the cause of their death, if dead +they actually were. He began to draw nearer, making his advances with +stealth and caution--as he was still apprehensive about the snake. + +After he had made a few paces in a forward direction, he began to +perceive something moving around the bodies of the animals. Snakes? +No. What then? A few paces nearer. See! the whole ground is in +motion. The bodies of the ais, though dead, are covered with living, +moving objects! Ha! _it is a "chacu" of the white ants_. + +Leon now comprehended the whole affair. The ground was literally alive +with the terrible _termites_. They had made their foray, or "chacu," as +it is called, from the neighbouring cones; they had attacked the +helpless ais, and put them to death, with their poisonous stings! +Already they were tearing them to pieces, and bearing them off to their +dark caves! So thick were they on the bodies of the animals, that the +latter had suddenly changed their colour, and now appeared to be nothing +more than living heaps of crawling insects! + +It was a hideous sight to behold, and Leon felt his flesh creep as he +looked upon it. Still he felt a curiosity to witness the result, and he +stood watching the busy crowd that had gathered about the ais. He had +heard strange accounts of these white ants; how that, in a few minutes, +they will tear the carcasses of large animals to pieces, and carry them +away to their dens; and he was determined to prove the truth of this by +observation. He did not go any nearer, for he was not without some +dread of these ugly creatures; but, happening to find himself beside a +small tree, with low horizontal branches, he climbed up, and sat down +upon one of the branches, resting his feet upon another. He was +inclined to take the thing as easily as possible. His perch commanded a +full view of the operations of the termites, and for a long time he sat +watching them with interest. He could see that it was not the same set +that were always on the carcasses of the ais. On the contrary, one host +were always leaving the spot, while another took their places, and from +the great conical houses fresh bands appeared to issue. In fact, two +great parallel belts of them, like army columns, stretched from the +"hills" to the ais, going in opposite directions. Those which travelled +towards the cells presented a very different appearance to the others. +These were loaded with pieces of torn flesh, or skin with tufts of hair +adhering to it; and each ant carried a piece by far larger than its own +body. Their bodies, in fact, were quite hidden under their +disproportionate burdens. The others--those which were coming from the +conical hills--were empty-handed, and presented the appearance of a +whitish stream flowing along the surface of the ground! + +It was a most singular sight; and Leon sat watching the creatures until +his head was giddy, and he felt as though the ground itself was in +motion. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +THE PUMA AND THE GREAT ANT-BEAR. + +All at once the attention of the boy was called away from the crawling +millions. A rustling among some dead leaves was heard. It appeared to +proceed from the edge of the glade, not far from the ant-hills. The +branches of the underwood were seen to move, and the next moment a +slender cylindrical object, about a foot and a half in length, was +protruded out from the leaves. Had there not been a pair of small eyes +and ears near the farther end of this cylindrical object, no one would +have taken it for the head and snout of an animal. But Leon saw the +little sparkling black eyes, and he therefore conjectured that it was +some such creature. The next moment the body came into view, and a +singular creature it was. It was about the size of a very large +Newfoundland dog, though of a different shape. It was covered all over +with long brownish hair, part of which looked so coarse as to resemble +dry grass or bristles. On each shoulder was a wide stripe of black, +bordered with whitish bands; and the tail, which was full three feet +long, was clothed with a thick growth of coarse hair, several inches in +length, that looked like strips of whalebone. This was carried aloft, +and curving over the back. But the most curious feature of the animal +was its snout. Talk of the nose of a greyhound. It would be a "pug" in +comparison! That of this animal was full twice as long, and not half so +thick, with a little mouth not over an inch in size, and without a +single tooth! It was certainly the oddest snout Leon had ever seen. +The legs, too, were remarkable. They were stout and thick, the hinder +ones appearing much shorter than the fore-legs; but this was because the +creature in its hind feet was _plantigrade_, that is, it walked with the +whole of its soles touching the surface, which only bears and a few +other sorts of quadrupeds do. Its fore-feet, too, were oddly placed +upon the ground. They had four long claws upon each, but these claws, +instead of being spread out, as in the dog or cat, were all folded +backward along the sole, and the creature, to avoid treading on them, +actually walked on the sides of its feet! The claws were only used for +scraping up the ground, and then it could bring them forward in a +perpendicular position, like the blade of a hoe, or the teeth of a +garden-rake. Of course, with feet furnished in such an out-of-the-way +fashion, the animal moved but slowly over the ground. In fact it went +very slowly, and with a stealthy pace. + +Although Leon had never seen the creature before, he had read about it, +and had also seen pictures of it. He knew it, therefore, at a glance. +That proboscis-looking snout was not to be mistaken. It could belong to +no other creature than the _tamanoir_, or _great ant-eater_, by the +people of South America called the _ant-bear_ (_Myrmecophaga jubata_). +It was, in fact, that very thing; but to Leon's astonishment, as soon as +it got fairly out of the bushes, he noticed a singular-looking hunch +upon its back, just over the shoulder. At first he could not make out +what this was, as he had never heard of such a protuberance, besides, +the tail half hid it from his view. All of a sudden the animal turned +its head backwards, touched the hunch with its snout, gave itself a +shake, and then the odd excrescence fell to the ground, and proved to be +a young ant-eater, with bushy tail and long snout, the "very image of +its mother." The large one was thus seen to be a female that had been +carrying her infant upon her shoulders. + +It was close to one of the ant-hills where the old tamanoir placed her +young upon the ground, and turning away from it, she approached the +great cone. Erecting herself upon her hind-feet, she stood with the +fore ones resting against the hill, apparently examining it, and +considering in what part of it the shell or roof was thinnest and +weakest. These cones, composed of agglutinated sand and earth, are +frequently so stoutly put together that it requires a pickaxe or crowbar +to break them open. But the ant-eater knew well that her fore-feet were +armed with an implement equal to either pick or crow, and she would +certainly have made a hole there and then, had she not noticed, on +looking around to the other side, that the inhabitants of the hill were +all abroad upon one of their forays. This seemed to bring about a +sudden change in her determination, and, dropping her fore-feet to the +ground, she once more threw up her great tail, and returned to where she +had left her young one. Partly pushing it before her with her snout, +and partly lifting it between her strong fore-arms, she succeeded in +bringing the latter to the border of the path along which travelled the +ants. Here she squatted down, and placed herself so that the point of +her nose just touched the selvedge of the swarming hosts, having caused +the youngster by her side to do the same. Then throwing out a long +worm-like tongue, which glittered with a viscous coating, she drew it +back again covered with ants. These passed into her mouth, and thence, +of course, into her capacious stomach. The tongue, which was more than +a foot in length, and nearly as thick as a quill, was again thrown out, +and again drawn back, and this operation she continued, the tongue +making about two "hauls" to every second of time! Now and then she +stopped eating, in order to give some instructions to the little one +that was seen closely imitating her, and with its more slender tongue +dealing death among the _termites_. + +So very comic was the sight that Leon could not help laughing at it, as +he sat upon his perch. + +An end, however, was put to his merriment, by the sudden appearance of +another animal--one of a different character. It was a large cat-like +creature, of a reddish-yellow, or tawny colour, long body and tail, +round head, with whiskers, and bright gleaming eyes. Leon had seen that +sort of animal before. He had seen it led in strings by Indians through +the streets of Cuzco, and he at once recognised it. It was the _Puma_-- +the maneless lion of America. + +The specimens which Leon had seen with the Indians had been rendered +tame and harmless. He knew that, but he had also been told that the +animal in its wild state is a savage and dangerous beast. This is true +of the puma in some districts, while in others the creature is cowardly, +and will flee at the sight of man. In all cases, however, when the puma +is brought to bay, it makes a desperate fight, and both dogs and men +have been killed in the attack. + +Leon had not been frightened at the tamanoir. Even had it been a savage +creature, he knew it could not climb a tree--though there are two +smaller species of ant-bears in South America that can--and he therefore +knew he was quite safe on his perch. But his feelings were very +different when the red body of the puma came in sight. It could run up +the smoothest, trunk in the forest with as much ease and agility as a +cat, and there would be no chance of escaping from it if it felt +disposed to attack him. Of this the boy was fully conscious, and no +wonder he was alarmed. + +His first thought was to leap down, and make for the cinchona-trees, +where the others were; but the puma had entered the glade from that +side, and it was therefore directly in his way: he would have run right +in its teeth by going toward the cinchona-trees. He next thought of +slipping quietly down, and getting into the woods behind him. +Unfortunately, the tree on which he was stood out in the glade quite +apart from any others, the puma would see him go off, and, of course, +could overtake him in a dozen leaps. These thoughts passed through the +boy's mind in a few seconds of time; and in a few seconds of time he was +convinced that his best course would be to remain where he was, and keep +quiet. Perhaps the puma would not notice him--as yet he had not. + +No doubt he would have done so, had there been nothing else on the spot +to take off his attention; but just as he came into the open ground, his +eyes fell upon the ant-eaters, where they lay squatted and licking up +the termites. He had entered the glade in a sort of skulking trot, but +the moment he saw the tamanoirs he halted, drew his body into a +crouching attitude, and remained thus for some moments, while his long +tail oscillated from side to side, as that of a cat when about to spring +upon a mouse or a sparrow. Just at this moment the tamanoir, having +turned round to address some conversation to her young companion, espied +him, and sprang to her feet. She recognised in the puma--as in others +of his race--a deadly enemy. With one sweep of her fore-arm she flung +the young one behind her, until it rested against the wall of the +ant-hill, and then, following in all haste, threw herself into an erect +attitude in front of her young, covering it with her body. She was now +standing firm upon her hind-feet--her back resting against the mud +wall--but her long snout had entirely disappeared! That was held close +along her breast, and entirely concealed by the shaggy tail, which for +this purpose had been brought up in front. Her defence rested in her +strong fore-arms, which, with the great claws standing at right angles, +were now held out in a threatening manner. The young one, no doubt +aware of some danger, had drawn itself into its smallest bulk, and was +clewed up behind her. + +The puma dashed forward, open-mouthed, and began the attack. He looked +as though he would carry everything by the first assault; but a sharp +tear from the tamanoir's claws drew the blood from his cheek, and +although it rendered him more furious, it seemed to increase his +caution. In the two or three successive attempts he kept prudently out +of reach of these terrible weapons. His adversary held her fore-legs +wide open, as though she was desirous of getting the other to rush +between them, that she might clutch him, after the manner of the bears. +This was exactly what she wanted, and in this consists the chief mode of +defence adopted by these animals. The puma, however, seemed to be up to +her trick. + +This thrust-and-parry game continued for some minutes, and might have +lasted longer, had it not been for the young tamanoir. This foolish +little creature, who up to that moment was not very sure what the fuss +was all about, had the imprudent curiosity to thrust out its slender +snout. The puma espied it, and making a dart forward, seized the snout +in his great teeth, and jerked the animal from under. It uttered a low +squall, but the next moment its head was "crunched" between the muscular +jaws of the puma. + +The old one now appeared to lose all fear and caution. Her tail fell +down. Her long snout was unsheathed from under its protection, and she +seemed undecided what to do. But she was not allowed much time to +reflect. The puma, seeing the snout, the most vulnerable part, +uncovered, launched himself forward like an arrow, and caught hold of it +in his bristling fangs. Then having dragged his victim forward, he +flung her upon her breast, and mounting rapidly on her back, proceeded +to worry her at his pleasure. + +Although Leon pitied the poor tamanoir, yet he dared not interfere, and +would have permitted the puma to finish his work, but at that moment a +sharp pain, which he suddenly felt in his ankle, caused him to start +upon his seat, and utter an involuntary scream. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +ATTACK OF THE WHITE ANTS. + +Leon looked down to ascertain what had caused him such a sudden pain. +The sight that met his eyes made his blood run cold. The ground below +was alive and moving. A white stratum of ants covered it on all sides +to the distance of several yards. _They were ascending the tree_! Nay, +more; a string of them had already crawled up; the trunk was crowded by +others coming after; and several were upon his feet, and legs, and +thighs! It was one of these that had stung him! + +The fate of the ais--which he had just witnessed--and the sight of the +hideous host, caused him again to scream out. At the same time he had +risen to his feet, and was pulling himself up among the upper branches. +He soon reached the highest; but he had not been a moment there, when he +reflected that it would be no security. The creatures were crawling +upwards as fast as they could come. + +His next thought was to descend again, leap from the tree, and crushing +the vermin under his feet, make for the bark-cutters. He had made up +his mind to this course, and was already half-down, when _he remembered +the puma_! In his alarm at the approach of the ants he had quite +forgotten this enemy, and he now remembered that it was directly in the +way of his intended escape. He turned his eyes in that direction. It +was not there! The ant-bears were still upon the ground--the young one +dead, and the mother struggling in her last agonies; but no puma! + +The boy began to hope that his cries had frightened him off. His hope +was short-lived; for on glancing around the glade, he now beheld the +fierce brute crouching among the grass, and evidently coming towards +him! What was to be done? Would the puma attack him in the tree? +Surely he would; but what better would he be on the ground? No better, +but worse. At all events he had not time for much reflection, for +before two seconds the fierce puma was close to the tree. Leon was +helpless--he gave himself up for lost. He could only cry for help, and +he raised his voice to its highest pitch. + +The puma did not spring up the tree at once, as Leon had expected. On +the contrary, it crouched round and round with glaring eyes and wagging +tail, as if calculating the mode of attack. Its lips were red--stained +with the blood of the ant-eaters--and this added to the hideousness of +its appearance. But it needed not that, for it was hideous enough at +any time. + +Leon kept his eyes upon it, every moment expecting it to spring up the +tree. All at once he saw it give a sudden start, and at the same +instant he heard a hissing noise, as if something passed rapidly through +the air. Ha! something sticking in the body of the puma! It is an +arrow,--a poisoned arrow! The puma utters a fierce growl--it turns upon +itself--the arrow is crushed between its teeth. Another "hist!"-- +another arrow! Hark! a well-known voice--well-known voices--the voices +of Don Pablo and Guapo! See! they burst into the glade--Don Pablo with +his axe, and Guapo with his unerring gravatana! + +The puma turns to flee. He has already reached the border of the wood; +he staggers--the poison is doing its work. Hurrah! he is down; but the +poison does not kill him, for the axe of Don Pablo is crashing through +his skull. Hurrah! the monster is dead, and Leon is triumphantly borne +off on the shoulders of the faithful Guapo! + +Don Pablo dragged the puma away, in order that they might get his fine +skin. The ant-eaters, both of which were now dead, he left behind, as +he saw that the termites were crawling thickly around them, and had +already begun their work of devastation. Strange to say, as the party +returned that way, going to dinner, not a vestige remained either of the +ais or the ant-eaters, except a few bones and some portions of coarse +hair. The rest of all these animals had been cleared off by the ants, +and carried into the cells of their hollow cones! + +It was, no doubt, the noise of the bark-hunters that had started the +ant-eaters abroad, for these creatures usually prowl only in the night. +The same may have aroused the fierce puma from his lair, although he is +not strictly a nocturnal hunter. + +A curious incident occurred as they approached the glade on their way +home. The male tamanoir was roused from his nest among the dry leaves, +and Guapo, instead of running upon him and killing the creature, warned +them all to keep a little back, and he would show them some fun. Guapo +now commenced shaking the leaves, so that they rattled as if rain was +falling upon them. At this the ant-eater jerked up its broad tail, and +appeared to shelter itself as with an umbrella! Guapo then went towards +it, and commenced driving it before him just as if it had been a sheep +or goat, and in this manner he took it all the way to the house. Of +course Guapo took care not to irritate it; for, when that is done, the +ant-eater will either turn out of his way or stop to defend itself. + +The tamanoir is not so defenceless a creature as might at first sight be +imagined by considering his small toothless mouth and slow motions. His +mode of defence is that which has been described, and which is quite +sufficient against the tiger-cat, the ocelot, and all the smaller +species of feline animals. No doubt the old female would have proved a +match for the puma had she not been thrown off her guard by his seizing +upon her young. It is even asserted that the great ant-bear sometimes +hugs the jaguar to death; but this I believe to be a mistake, as the +latter is far too powerful and active to be thus conquered. Doubtless +the resemblance of the jaguar to some of the smaller spotted cats of +these countries, leads to a great many misconceptions concerning the +prowess of the _American tiger_. + +Besides the tamanoir there are two, or perhaps three, other species of +_ant-bears_ in the forests of South America. These, however, are so +different in habits and appearance, that they might properly be classed +as a separate genus of animals. They are _tree-climbers_, which the +tamanoir is not, spite of his great claws. They pursue the ants that +build their nests upon the high branches, as well as the wasps and bees; +and to befit them for this life, they are furnished with _naked +prehensile tails_, like the opossums and monkeys. These are +characteristics entirely distinct from those of the _Myrmecophaga +jubata_, or _great_ ant-eater. + +One of these species is the _tamandua_, called by the Spano-Americans +_Osso hormiguero_ (ant-bear). The tamandua is much less than the +tamanoir, being only three and a half feet in length, while the latter +is over seven. The former is of a stouter build, with neither so long a +snout in proportion, nor such claws. The claws, moreover, are made for +tree-climbing, and are not so much in the way when the animal walks on +the ground. It is, therefore, a more active creature, and stands better +upon its limbs. Its fur is short and silky, but the tail is nearly +naked, and, as already stated, highly prehensile, although it does not +sleep hanging by the tail as some other animals do. + +The tamandua is usually of a dull straw-colour, although it varies in +this respect, so that several species have been supposed to exist. It +spends most of its time upon the trees; and in addition to its ant-diet, +it feeds upon wild honey, and bees too, whenever it can catch them. The +female, like the tamanoir, produces only one young at a birth, and like +the other species, carries it upon her back until it is able to provide +for itself. The tamandua has sometimes been called _tridactyla_, or the +"three-toed ant-eater," because it has only three claws upon each of its +fore-feet, whereas the tamanoir is provided with four. + +Another species of "ant-bear," differing from both in size and in many +of its habits, is the "little ant-eater" (_Myrmecophaga didactyla_). +This one has only two claws on each fore-foot, hence its specific name. +It is a very small creature--not larger than the _common grey_ +squirrel--with a prehensile tail like the tamandua. The tail, however, +is not entirely naked--only on the under side near the point. It is not +so good a walker as the three-toed kind, though more active on its feet +than the tamanoir. Standing upon its hind-feet, and supporting itself +also by the tail--which it has already thrown around some branch--the +little ant-eater uses its fore-feet as hands to carry food to its mouth. +It lives among the trees, and feeds upon wasps, bees, and especially +the larvae of both; but it does not use the tongue to any great extent. +It is, on this account, an essentially different sort of animal. + +The little ant-eater is usually of a bright yellow colour, brownish on +the back; but there are many varieties in this respect, and some are of +a snowy whiteness. Its fur is soft and silky, sometimes slightly curled +or matted at the points, and the tail fur is annulated, or ringed, with +the prevailing colours of the body. + +So much for the ant-bears of America. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +THE ANT-LION. + +Ants are disagreeable insects in any country, but especially so in warm +tropical climates. Their ugly appearance, their destructive habits, +but, above all, the pain of their sting, or rather bite--for ants do not +sting as wasps, but bite with the jaws, and then infuse poison into the +wound--all these render them very unpopular creatures. A superficial +thinker would suppose that such troublesome insects could be of no use, +and would question the propriety of Nature in having created them. But +when we give the subject a little attention, we find that they were not +created in vain. Were it not for these busy creatures, what would +become of the vast quantities of decomposing substances found in some +countries? What would be done with the decaying vegetation and the dead +animal matter? Why, in many places, were it not consumed by these +insects, and reorganised into new forms of life, it would produce +pestilence and death; and surely these are far more disagreeable things +than ants. + +Of ants there are many different kinds; but the greatest number of +species belong to warm countries, where, indeed, they are most useful. +Some of these species are so curious in their habits, that whole volumes +have been written about them, and naturalists have spent a lifetime in +their study and observation. Their social and domestic economy is of +the most singular character, more so than that of the bees; and I am +afraid here to give a single trait of their lives, lest I should be led +on to talk too much about them. I need only mention the wonderful nests +or hills which some species build--those great cones of twenty feet in +height, and so strong that wild bulls run up their sides and stand upon +their tops without doing them the least injury! Others make their +houses of cylindrical form, rising several feet from the surface. +Others, again, prefer nesting in the trees, where they construct large +cellular masses of many shapes, suspending them from the highest +branches; while many species make their waxen dwellings in hollow +trunks, or beneath the surface of the earth. There is not a species, +however, whose habits, fully-observed and described, would not strike +you with astonishment. Indeed, it is difficult to believe all that is +related about these insects by naturalists who have made them their +study. One can hardly understand how such little creatures can be +gifted with so much intelligence, or _instinct_, as some choose to call +it. + +Man is not the only enemy of the ants. If he were so, it is to be +feared that these small insignificant creatures would soon make the +earth too hot for him. So prolific are they, that if left to themselves +our whole planet would, in a short period, become a gigantic ants' nest? + +Nature has wisely provided against the over increase of the ant family. +No living thing has a greater variety of enemies than they. In all the +divisions of animated nature there are ant-destroyers--_ant-eaters_! To +begin with the mammalia, man himself feeds upon them--for there are +tribes of Indians in South America, the principal part of whose food +consists of dried termites, which they bake into a kind of "paste!" +There are quadrupeds that live exclusively on them, as the ant-bear +already described, and the _pangolins_, or scaly ant-eaters of the +Eastern continent. There are birds, too, of many sorts that devour the +ants; and there are even some who make them exclusively their food, as +the genus _Myothera_, or "ant-catchers." Many kinds of reptiles, both +snakes and lizards, are ant-eaters; and, what is strangest of all, there +are _insects_ that prey upon them! + +No wonder, then, with such a variety of enemies that the ants are kept +within proper limits, and are not allowed to overrun the earth. + +The observations just made are very similar to those that were addressed +by Dona Isidora to the little Leona, one day when they were left alone. +The others had gone about their usual occupation of bark-cutting, and +these, of course, remained at home to take care of the house and cook +the dinner. That was already hanging over a fire outside the house; for +in these hot countries it is often more convenient to do the cooking +out-of-doors. + +Dona Isidora, busy with some sewing, was seated under the shadow of the +banana-trees, and the pretty little Leona was playing near her. Leona +had been abusing the ants, partly on account of their having so +frightened Leon, and partly because one of the red species had bitten +herself the day before; and it was for this reason that her mother had +entered into such explanations regarding these creatures, with a view of +exculpating them from the bitter accusations urged against them by +Leona. Talking about ants very naturally led them to cast their eyes to +the ground to see if any of the creatures were near; and sure enough +there were several of the red ones wandering about. Just then the eyes +of Dona Isidora rested upon a very different insect, and she drew the +attention of her daughter to it. It was an insect of considerable size, +being full an inch in length, with an elongated oval body, and a small +flat head. From the head protruded two great horny jaws, that bore some +resemblance to a pair of calliper compasses. Its legs were short and +very unfitted for motion. Indeed they were not of much use for that +purpose, as it could make very little way on them, but crawled only +sidewards, or backwards, with great apparent difficulty. The creature +was of a greyish or sand colour; and in the sand, where it was seated, +it might not have been observed at all had not the lady's eyes been +directed upon the very spot. But Dona Isidora, who was a very good +entomologist, recognised it; and, knowing that it was a very curious +insect, on this account called the attention of her daughter to it. + +"What is it, mamma?" inquired the little Leona, bending forward to +examine it. + +"The _ant-lion_." + +"The ant-lion! Why, mamma, it is an insect! How then can it be called +lion?" + +"It is a name given it," replied the lady, "on account of its fierce +habits, which, in that respect, assimilate it to its powerful +namesake,--the king of the beasts; and, indeed, this little creature has +more strength and ferocity in proportion to its size than even the lion +himself." + +"But why the _ant-lion_, mamma?" + +"Because it preys principally on ants. I have said there are insect +ant-eaters. This is one of them." + +"But how can such a slow creature as that get hold of them? Why the +ants could crawl out of its way in a moment!" + +"That is true. Nevertheless it manages to capture as many as it +requires. Remember `the ace is not always to the swift.' It is by +stratagem it succeeds in taking its prey--a very singular stratagem too. +If you will sit back and not frighten it, I have no doubt it will soon +give you an opportunity of seeing how it manages the matter." + +Leona took a seat by the side of her mother. They were both at just +such a distance from the ant-lion that they could observe every movement +it made; but for a considerable time it remained quiet; no doubt, +because they had alarmed it. In the interval Dona Isidora imparted to +her daughter some further information about its natural history. + +"The ant-lion (_Myrmeleori_)," said she, "is not an insect in its +perfect state, but only the _larva_ of one. The perfect insect is a +very different creature, having wings and longer legs. It is one of the +_neuropterous_ tribe, or those with nerved wings. The wings of this +species rest against each other, forming a covering over its body, like +the roof upon a house. They are most beautifully reticulated like the +finest lace-work, and variegated with dark spots, that give the insect a +very elegant appearance. Its habits are quite different to those which +it follows when a larva, or in that state when it is the ant-lion. It +flies but little during the day, and is usually found quietly sitting +amongst the leaves of plants, and seems to be one of the most pacific +and harmless of insects. How very different with the larva--the very +reverse--See!" + +Dona Isidora pointed to the ant-lion that was just then beginning to +bestir itself, and both sat silent regarding it attentively. + +First, then, the little creature going backwards, and working with its +callipers, traced a circle on the surface of the sand. This circle was +between two and three inches in diameter. Having completed it, it now +commenced to clear out all the sand within the circle. To accomplish +this, it was seen to scrape up the sand with one of its fore-feet, and +shovel a quantity of it upon its flat head; then, giving a sudden jerk +of the neck, it pitched the sand several inches outside the traced +circumference. This operation it repeated so often, and so adroitly, +that in a very short time a round pit began to show itself in the +surface of the ground. Wherever it encountered a stone, this was raised +between its callipers and pitched out beyond the ring. Sometimes stones +occurred that were too large to be thrown out in this way. These it +managed to get upon its back, and, then crawling cautiously up the sides +of the pit, it tumbled them upon the edge and rolled them away. Had it +met with a stone so large as to render this impossible, it would have +left the place, and chosen another spot of ground. Fortunately this was +not the case, and they had an opportunity of watching the labour to its +conclusion. + +For nearly an hour they sat watching it--of course not neglecting their +other affairs--and, at the end of that time, the ant-lion had jerked out +so much sand, that a little funnel-shaped pit was formed nearly as deep +as it was wide. This was its trap, and it was now finished and ready +for action. + +Having made all its arrangements, it had nothing more to do than remain +at the bottom of the pit and wait patiently until some unfortunate ant +should chance to come that way and fall in; and where these insects were +constantly wandering over the ground, such an accident would, sooner or +later, be certain to take place. + +Lest the ant should peep into the pit, discover its hideous form below, +and then retreat, this ant-lion had actually the cunning to bury its +body in the sand, leaving only a small portion of its head to be seen. + +Both Dona Isidora and the little Leona remained watching with increased +interest. They were very anxious to witness the result. They were not +kept long in suspense. I have already stated that many ants were +crawling about. There were dozens of them "quartering" the ground in +every direction in search of their own prey; and they left not an inch +of it unsearched. At last one was seen to approach the trap of the +ant-lion. Curiosity brings it to the very edge of that terrible +pit-fall. It protrudes its head and part of its body over the brink--it +is not such a terrible gulf to look into--if it should slip down, it +could easily crawl out again. Ha! it little knows the enemy that is +ambushed there. It perceives something singular--an odd something-- +perhaps it might be something good to eat. It is half-resolved to slide +down and make a closer examination of this something. It is balancing +on the brink, and would, no doubt, have gone down voluntarily, but that +is no longer left to its own choice. The mysterious object at the +bottom of the funnel suddenly springs up and shows itself--it is the +ant-lion in all its hideous proportions; and before the little ant can +draw itself away, the other has flung around it a shower of sand that +brings it rolling down the side of the pit. Then the sharp callipers +are closed upon the victim--all the moisture in his body is sucked out-- +and his remains, now a dry and shapeless mass, are rested for a moment +upon the head of the destroyer, and then jerked far outside the pit! + +The ant-lion now dresses his trap, and, again burying himself in the +sand, awaits another victim. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +THE TATOU-POYOU AND THE DEER CARCASS. + +Dona Isidora and Leona had watched all the manoeuvres of the ant-lion +with great interest, and Leona, after the bite she had had, was not in +any mood to sympathise with the ants. Indeed, she felt rather grateful +to the ant-lion, ugly as he was, for killing them. + +Presently Leon returned from the woods, and was shown the trap in full +operation; but Leon, upon this day, was full of adventures that had +occurred upon the hills to himself, Guapo, and Don Pablo. In fact, he +had hastened home before the others to tell his mamma of the odd +incidents to which he had been a witness. + +That morning they had discovered a new _mancha_ of cinchona-trees. When +proceeding towards them they came upon the dead carcass of a deer. It +was a large species, the _Cervus antisensis_, but, as it had evidently +been dead several days, it was swollen out to twice its original size, +as is always the case with carcasses of animals left exposed in a warm +climate. It was odd that some preying animals had not eaten it up. A +clump of tall trees that shaded it, had, no doubt, concealed it from the +sharp sight of the vultures, and these birds, contrary to what has so +often been alleged, can find no dead body by the smell. Neither ants +nor animals that prey upon carrion had chanced to come that way, and +there lay the deer intact. + +So thought Don Pablo and Leon. Guapo, however, was of a different +opinion, and, going up to the body, he struck it a blow with his axe. +To the surprise of the others, instead of the dead sound which they +expected to hear, a dry crash followed the blow, and a dark hole +appeared where a piece of thin shell-like substance had fallen off. +Another blow from Guapo's axe, and the whole side went in. Not a bit of +carcass was there; there were bones--clean bones--and dry hard skin, but +no flesh, not an atom of flesh! + +"Tatou-poyou!" quietly remarked Guapo. + +"What!" said Don Pablo, "an armadillo, you think?" recognising, in +Guapo's words, the Indian name for one of the large species of +armadillos. + +"Yes," replied Guapo. "All eaten by the tatou-poyou. See! there's his +hole." + +Don Pablo and Leon bent over the sham carcass, and, sure enough, under +where its body had been they could see a large hole in the ground. +Outside the carcass, also, at the distance of several feet was another. + +"That is where he entered," said Guapo, pointing to the second. "He's +not about hero now," continued he, "no, no,--ate all the meat, and gone +long ago." + +This was evident, as the hollow skeleton was quite dry, and had +evidently been empty for a good while. + +Don Pablo was pleased at this incident, as it gave him an opportunity of +verifying a curious habit of the armadillos. These creatures are among +the finest burrowers in the world, and can bury themselves in the earth +in a few seconds' time; but, being badly toothed,--some of them +altogether without teeth,--they can only feed upon very soft substances. +Putrid flesh is with them a favourite "dish," and in order to get at +the softest side of a carcass, they burrow under, and enter it from +below, rarely leaving their horrid cave until they have thoroughly +cleared it out. + +The bark-hunters now passed on, Don Pablo making many inquiries about +the armadillos, and Guapo giving replies, while Leon listened with +interest. Guapo knew a good deal about these curious creatures, for he +had eaten many a dozen of them in his time, and as many different kinds +of them too. Their feeding upon carrion had no effect on Guapo's +stomach, and, indeed, white people in South America relish them as much +as Indians. The white people, however, make a distinction in the +species, as they suppose some kinds to be more disposed to a vegetable +diet than others. There are some in the neighbourhood of the +settlements, that _occasionally pay a visit to the graveyards or +cemeteries_, and these kinds do not go down well. All of them will +devour almost any sort of trash that is soft and pulpy, and they are +more destructive to the ant than even the ant-eaters themselves. How +so? Because, instead of making a nice little hole in the side of the +ant-hill, as the tamanoirs do, and through this hole eating the ants +themselves, the armadillos break down a large part of the structure and +devour the _larva_. Now the ants love these _larva_ more than their own +lives, and when these are destroyed, they yield themselves up to +despair, refuse to patch up the building, the rain gets in, and the +colony is ruined and breaks up. + +It does not follow, however, that the flesh of the armadillo should be +"queer" because the animal itself eats queer substances. Among +carnivorous creatures the very opposite is sometimes the truth; and some +animals--as the tapir, for instance--that feed exclusively on sweet and +succulent vegetables, produce a most bitter flesh for themselves. About +this there is no standing law either way. + +The flesh of the armadillo is excellent eating, not unlike young pork, +and, when "roasted in the shell" (the Indian mode of cooking it), it is +quite equal, if not superior, to a baked "pig," a dish very much eaten +in our own country. + +Guapo did not call them armadillos--he had several Indian names for +different kinds of them. "Armadillo" is the Spanish name, and signifies +the "little armed one," the diminutive of "armado" or "armed." This +name is peculiarly appropriate to these animals, as the hard bony casing +which covers the whole upper parts of their bodies, bears an exceeding +resemblance to the suits of plate armour worn in the days of Cortez and +chivalry. + +On the head there is the helmet, the back is shielded by a corslet, and +even the limbs are covered with greaves. Of course, this armour is +arranged differently in the different species, and there is more or less +hair upon all, between the joinings of the plates. + +These points were not touched upon by Guapo, but others of equal +interest were. He went on to say that he knew many different kinds of +them;--some not bigger than a rat, and some as large as a full-grown +sheep; some that were slow in their paces, and others that could outrun +a man; some that were flat, and could squat so close as hardly to be +seen against the ground,--(these were _tatou-poyous_, the sort that had +hollowed out the deer); and some again that were high-backed and nearly +globe-shaped. Such was Guapo's account of these curious animals which +are found only in the warmer regions of North and South America. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +AN ARMADILLO HUNT. + +Conversing in this way, the bark-hunters, at length, reached the +cinchona-trees, and then all talk about armadillos was at an end. They +went lustily to their work--which was of more importance--and, under +Guapo's axe, several of the cinchonas soon "bit the dust." + +There was a spot of open ground just a little to one side of where these +trees stood. They had noticed, on coming up, a flock of zamuros, or +black vultures, out upon this ground, clustered around some object. It +was the carcass of another deer. The first blow of the axe startled the +birds, and they flapped a short way off. They soon returned, however, +not being shy birds, but the contrary. + +There was nothing in all this to create surprise, except, perhaps, the +dead deer. What had been killing these animals? Not a beast of prey, +for that would have devoured them, unless, indeed, it might be the puma, +that often kills more than he can eat. + +The thought had occurred to Don Pablo that they might have died from the +poisoned arrows of an Indian. This thought somewhat disquieted him, for +he knew not what kind of Indians they might be,--they might be friendly +or hostile;--if the latter, not only would all his plans be frustrated, +but the lives of himself and party would be in danger. Guapo could not +assure him on this head; he had been so long absent from the Great +Montana that he was ignorant of the places where the tribes of these +parts might now be located. These tribes often change their homes. He +knew that the Chunchos sometimes roamed so far up, and they were the +most dangerous of all the Indians of the Montana,--haters of the whites, +fierce and revengeful. It was they who several times destroyed the +settlements and mission stations. If Chunchos were in the woods they +might look out for trouble. Guapo did not think there were any Indians +near. He would have seen some traces of them before now, and he had +observed none since their arrival. This assurance of the knowing Indian +quite restored Don Pablo's confidence, and they talked no longer on the +subject. After a while, their attention was again called to the +vultures. These filthy creatures had returned to the deer, and were +busily gorging themselves, when, all at once, they were seen to rise up +as if affrighted. They did not fly far,--only a few feet,--and stood +with outstretched necks looking towards the carrion, as if whatever had +frightened them was there. + +The bark-hunters could perceive nothing. It was the body of a small +deer, already half eaten, and no object bigger than a man's hand could +have been concealed behind it. The zamuros, however, _had_ seen +something strange--else they would hardly have acted as they did--and, +with this conviction, the bark-hunters stopped their work to observe +them. + +After a while the birds seemed to take fresh courage, hopped back to the +carrion, and recommenced tearing at it. In another moment they again +started and flew back, but, this time, not so far as before, and then +they all returned again, and, after feeding another short while, started +back a third time. + +This was all very mysterious, but Guapo, guessing what was the matter, +solved the mystery by crying out-- + +"_Tatou-poyou_!" + +"Where?" inquired Don Pablo. + +"Yonder, master,--yonder in the body of the beast." + +Don Pablo looked, and, sure enough, he could see something moving; it +was the head and shoulders of an armadillo. It had burrowed and come up +through the body of the deer, thus meeting the vultures half-way! No +doubt, it was the mysterious mode by which it had entered on the stage +that had frightened them. + +They soon, however, got over their affright, and returned to their +repast. + +The armadillo--a very large one--had, by this time, crept out into the +open air, and went on eating. + +For a while the zamuros took no heed of him, deeming, perhaps, that, +although he had come in by the back-door, he might have as good a right +upon the premises as themselves. Their pacific attitude, however, was +but of short duration; something occurred to ruffle their temper--some +silent affront, no doubt,--for the bark-hunters heard nothing. Perhaps +the _tatou_ had run against the legs of one, and scraped it with the +sharp edge of his corslet. Whether this was the cause or no, a scuffle +commenced, and the beast in armour was attacked by all the vultures at +once. + +Of course he did not attack in turn, he had no means; he acted +altogether on the defensive; and this he was enabled to do by simply +drawing in his legs and flattening himself upon the ground. He was then +proof, not only against the beaks and weak talons of a vulture, but he +might have defied the royal eagle himself. + +After flapping him with their wings, and pecking him with their filthy +beaks, and clawing him with their talons, the zamuros saw it was all to +no purpose, and desisted. If they could not damage him, however, they +could prevent him from eating any more of the deer; for the moment he +stretched out his neck, several vultures sprang at him afresh, and would +have wounded him in the tender parts of his throat had he not quickly +drawn in his head again. Seeing that his feast was at an end--at least +above ground,--he suddenly raised his hind-quarters, and in a brace of +seconds buried himself in the earth. The vultures pecked him behind as +he disappeared, but the odd manner of his exit, like that of his +_entree_, seemed to mystify them, and several of them stood for some +moments in neck-stretched wonder. + +This scene had scarcely ended when a pair of fresh armadillos were +espied, coming from the farther edge of the opening, and, in fact, from +the edge of a precipice, for the river flowed close by, and its channel +was at that point shut in by cliffs. These two were large fellows, and +were making speedily towards the carrion, in order to get up before it +was all gone. Guapo could stand it no longer Guapo had tasted roast +armadillo, and longed for more. In an instant, therefore, axe in hand, +he was off to intercept the new comers. Don Pablo and Leon followed to +see the sport and assist in the capture. + +The armadillos, although not afraid of the vultures, seeing the hunters +approach, turned tail and made for the precipice. Guapo took after one, +while Don Pablo and Leon pursued the other. Guapo soon overhauled his +one, but, before he could lay his hands upon it, it had already half +buried itself in the dry ground. Guapo, however, seized the tail and +held on; and, although not able to drag it out, he was resolved it +should get no deeper. + +The one pursued by Don Pablo had got close to the edge of the precipice, +before either he or Leon could come up with it. There it stood for a +moment, as if in doubt what plan to pursue. Don Pablo and Leon were +congratulating themselves that they had fairly "cornered" it, for the +cliff was a clear fall of fifty feet, and, of course, it could get no +farther in that direction, while they approached it from two sides so as +to cut off its retreat. They approached it with caution, as they were +now near the edge, and it would not do to move too rashly. Both were +bent forward with their arms outstretched to clutch their prey; they +felt confident it was already in their grasp. Judge their astonishment, +then, at seeing the creature suddenly clew itself into a round ball, and +roll over the cliff! + +They looked below. They saw it upon the ground; they saw it open out +again, apparently unharmed, for, the next moment, it scuttled off and +hid itself among the rocks by the edge of the water! + +They turned toward Guapo, who was still holding his one by the tail, and +calling for help. Although it was but half buried, all three of them +could not have dragged it forth by the tail. That member would have +pulled out before the animal could have been dislodged; and such is not +an unfrequent occurrence to the hunters of the armadillo. Don Pablo, +however, took hold of the tail and held fast until Guapo loosened the +earth with his axe, and then the creature was more easily "extracted." +A blow on its head from Guapo made all right, and it was afterwards +carried safely to the house, and "roasted in the shell." + +That was a great day among the "armadillos." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +THE OCELOT. + +During the whole summer, Don Pablo, Guapo, and Leon, continued +bark-gathering. Every day they went out into the woods, excepting +Sunday of course. That was kept as a day of rest; for, although far +from civilised society, there was not the less necessity for their being +Christians. God dwells in the wilderness as well as in the walled city, +and worship to Him is as pleasing under the shadow of the forest leaves, +as with sounding organ beneath the vaulted dome of the grand cathedral. + +During week-days, while the others were abroad, Dona Isidora and the +little Leona were not idle at home; yet their whole time was not taken +up by the mere concerns of the _cuisine_. They had an industry of their +own, and, in fact, one that promised to be almost as profitable in its +results as the bark-gathering. This was neither more nor less than +preparing _vanilla_. + +Some days after arriving in the valley, while exploring a wood that lay +at the back of the cultivated ground, Don Pablo discovered that every +tree carried a creeper or parasite of a peculiar kind. It was a small +creeper not unlike ivy, and was covered with flowers of a +greenish-yellow colour, mixed with white. Don Pablo at once recognised +in this parasitical plant one of the many species of llianas that +produce the delicious and perfumed vanilla. It was, in fact, the finest +of the kind--that which, among the French, is called _leq_ vanilla; and, +from the fact that every tree had a number of these parasites, and no +other climbing vines, Don Pablo came to the conclusion that they had +been planted by the missionaries. It is thus that vanilla is usually +cultivated, by being set in slips at the root of some tree which may +afterwards sustain it. + +In the course of the summer, these vanilla vines exhibited a different +appearance. Instead of flowers, long bean-like capsules made their +appearance. These capsules or pods were nearly a foot in length, though +not much thicker than a swan's quill. They were a little flattish, +wrinkled, and of a yellow colour, and contained inside, instead of +beans, a pulpy substance, surrounding a vast quantity of small seeds, +like grains of sand. These seeds are the perfumed vanilla so much +prized, and which often yield the enormous price of fifty dollars a +pound! To preserve these, therefore, was the work of Dona Isidora and +Leona; and they understood perfectly how to do it. + +First, they gathered the pods before they were quite ripe. These they +strung upon a thread, taking cane to pass the thread through that end +nearest the foot-stalk. The whole were next plunged for an instant into +boiling water, which gave them a blanched appearance. The thread was +then stretched from tree to tree, and the pods, hanging like a string of +candles, were then exposed to the sun for several hours. Next day, they +were lightly smeared with an oiled feather, and then wrapped in oiled +cotton of the _Bombax ceiba_, to prevent the valves from opening. When +they had remained in this state for a few days, the string was taken +out, and passed through the other ends, so that they should hang in an +inverted position. This was to permit the discharge of a viscid liquid +from the foot-stalk end; and in order to assist this discharge, the pods +were several times lightly pressed between the fingers. They now became +dry and wrinkled. They had also shrunk to less than half their original +size, and changed their colour to a reddish-brown. Another delicate +touch of the oil-feather, and the vanilla was ready for the market. +Nothing remained but to pack them in small cases, which had already been +prepared from the leaf of a species of palm-tree. + +In such a way did the lady Isidora and her daughter pass their time; and +before the summer was out they had added largely to the stock of wealth +of our exiles. + +Although these two always remained by the house, they were not without +_their_ adventures as well, one of which I shall describe. It occurred +while they were getting in their crop of vanilla. Leona was in the +porch in front, busy among the vanilla-beans. She had a large needle +and a thread of palm-leaf fibre, with which she was stringing the long +pods, while her mother was inside the house packing some that had been +already dried. + +Leona rested for a moment, and was looking over the water, when, all at +once, she exclaimed, "Maman--Maman! come out and see! oh! what a +beautiful cat!" + +The exclamation caused Dona Isidora to start, and with a feeling of +uneasiness. The cause of her uneasiness was the word "cat." She feared +that what the innocent child had taken for a "beautiful cat" might prove +to be the dreaded jaguar. She ran at once out of the door, and looked +in the direction pointed out by Leona. There, sure enough, on the other +side of the water, was a spotted creature, looking in the distance, very +much like a cat; but Dona Isidora saw at a glance that it was a far +larger animal. Was it the jaguar? It was like one, in its colour and +markings. It was of a yellowish colour, and covered all over with black +spots, which gave it the semblance of the jaguar. Still Dona Isidora +thought that it was not so large as these animals usually are; and this, +to some extent, restored her confidence. When first seen, it was close +down to the water's edge, as if it had come there to drink; and Dona +Isidora was in hopes that, after satisfying its thirst, it would go away +again. What was her consternation to see it make a forward spring, and, +plunging into the water, swim directly for the house! + +Terrified, she seized Leona by the hand, and retreated inside. She shut +the door, and bolted it. If it were a jaguar, what protection would +that be? Such a creature could dash itself through the frail bamboo +wall, or tear the door to pieces with his great claws in a moment. "If +it be a jaguar," thought she, "we are lost!" + +Dona Isidora was a woman of courage. She was determined to defend the +lives of herself and daughter to the last. She looked around the house +for a weapon. The pistols of Don Pablo were hanging against the wall. +She knew they were loaded. She took them down, and looked to the flints +and priming, and then stationed herself at a place where she could see +out through the interstices of the bamboos. The little Leona kept by +her side, though she knew, that in a struggle with a ferocious jaguar, +she could give no help. + +By this time the animal had crossed the river, and she could see it +spring out on the bank, and come on towards the house. In a few seconds +it was close to the porch, where it halted to reconnoitre. Dona Isidora +saw it very plainly, and would now have had a very good chance to fire +at it; but she did not wish to begin the combat. Perhaps it might go +away again, without attempting to enter the house. In order not to draw +its attention, she stood perfectly quiet, having cautioned Leona to do +the same. + +It was not a large animal, though its aspect was fierce enough to +terrify any one. Its tiger-like eyes, and white teeth, which it showed +at intervals, were anything but pleasant to look upon. Its size, +however, was not so formidable; and Dona Isidora had understood the +jaguar to be a large animal; but there is also a smaller species of +jaguar. This might be the one. + +After halting a moment, the creature turned to one side, and then +proceeded at a skulking trot around the house. Now and then it stopped +and looked toward the building, as if searching for some aperture by +which it might get in. Dona Isidora followed it round on the inside. +The walls were so open that she could mark all its movements; and, with +a pistol in each hand, she was ready for the attack, determined to fire +the moment it might threaten to spring against the bamboos. + +On one side of the house, at a few paces distance, stood the mule. The +horse had been taken to the woods, and the mule was left alone. This +animal was tied to a tree, which shaded her from the sun. As soon as +the fierce creature got well round the house, it came in full view of +the mule, which now claimed its attention. The latter, on seeing it, +had started, and sprung round upon her halter, as if badly terrified by +the apparition. + +Whether the beast of prey had ever before seen a mule was a question. +Most likely it had not; for, half-innocently, and half as if with the +intention of making an attack, it went skulking up until it was close to +the heels of the latter. It could not have placed itself in a better +position to be well kicked; and well kicked it was, for, just at that +moment, the mule let fling with both her heels, and struck it upon the +ribs. A loud "thump" was heard by those within the house, and Dona +Isidora, still watching through the canes, had the satisfaction to see +the spotted creature take to its heels, and gallop off as if a kettle +had been tied to its tail! It made no stop, not even to look back; but +having reached the edge of the water, plunged in, and swam over to the +opposite shore. They could see it climb out on the other side, and +then, with a cowed and conquered look, it trotted off, and disappeared +among the palm-trees. + +Dona Isidora knew that it was gone for good; and having now no further +fear, went on with her work as before. She first, however, carried out +a large measure of the _murumuru_ nuts, and gave them to the mule, +patting the creature upon the nose, and thanking her for the important +service she had rendered. + +When Don Pablo and the rest returned, the adventure was, of course, +related; but from the description given of the animal, neither Don Pablo +nor Guapo believed it could have been the jaguar. It was too small for +that. Besides, a jaguar would not have been cowed and driven off by a +mule. He would more likely have killed the mule, and dragged its body +off with him across the river, or perhaps have broken into the house, +and done worse. + +The animal was, no doubt, the "ocelot," which is also spotted, or rather +marked with the eye-like rosettes which distinguish the skin of the +jaguar. Indeed, there are quite a number of animals of the cat genus in +the forests of the Montana; some spotted like the leopard, others +striped as the tiger, and still others of uniform colour all over the +body. They are, of course, all preying animals, but none of them will +attack man, except the jaguar and the puma. Some of the others, when +brought to bay, will fight desperately, as would the common wild cat +under like circumstances; but the largest of them will leave man alone, +if unmolested themselves. Not so with the jaguar, who will attack +either man or beast, and put them to death, unless he be himself +overpowered. + +The jaguar, or, as he is sometimes called, "ounce" (_Felis onca_), and +by most Spanish-Americans "tiger," is the largest and most ferocious of +all the American _Felidae_. He stands third in rank as to these +qualities--the lion and tiger of the Eastern continent taking precedence +of him. Specimens of the jaguar have been seen equal in size to the +Asiatic tiger; but the average size of the American animal is much less. +He is strong enough, however, to drag a dead horse or ox to his den-- +often to a distance of a quarter of a mile--and this feat has been +repeatedly observed. + +The jaguar is found throughout all the tropical countries of Spanish +America, and is oftener called tiger (_tigre_) than jaguar. This is a +misapplied name; for although he bears a considerable likeness to the +tiger, both in shape and habits, yet the markings of his skin are quite +different. The tiger is striated or striped, while the black on the +jaguar is in beautiful eye-like rosettes. The leopard is more like the +jaguar than any other creature; and the panther and cheetah of the +Eastern continent also resemble him. The markings of the jaguar, when +closely examined, differ from all of these. The spots on the animals of +the old world are simple spots or black rings, while those of the +American species are rings with a single spot in the middle, forming +_ocellae_, or eyes. Each, in fact, resembles a rosette. + +Jaguars are not always of the same colour. Some have skins of an orange +yellow, and these are the most beautiful. Others are lighter-coloured; +and individuals have been killed that were nearly white. But there is a +"black jaguar," which is thought to be of a different species. It is +larger and fiercer than the other, and is found in the very hottest +parts of the Great Montana. Its skin is not quite jet-black, but of a +deep maroon brown; and upon close inspection, the spots upon it can be +seen of a pure black. This species is more dreaded by the inhabitants +of those countries than the other; and it is said always to attack man +wherever it may encounter him. + +In the forests of South America, the jaguar reigns with undisputed sway. +All the other beasts fear, and fly from him. His roar produces terror +and confusion among the animated creation, and causes them to fly in +every direction. It is never heard by the Indian without some feeling +of fear,--and no wonder; for a year does not pass without a number of +these people falling victims to the savage ferocity of this animal. + +There are those, however, among them who can deal single-handed with the +jaguar,--regular "jaguar-hunters" by profession,--who do not fear to +attack the fierce brute in his own haunts. They do not trust to +fire-arms, but to a sharp spear. Upon this they receive his attack, +transfixing the animal with unerring aim as he advances. Should they +fail in their first thrust, their situation is one of peril; yet all +hope is not lost. On their left arm they carry a sort of sheepskin +shield. This is held forward, and usually seized by the jaguar; and +while he is busy with it, the hunter gains time for a second effort, +which rarely fails to accomplish his purpose. + +The jaguars are killed for many reasons. Their beautiful skins sell for +several dollars; besides, in many places a price is set upon their +heads, on account of their destructive habits. Thousands are destroyed +every year. For all this, they do not seem to diminish in numbers. The +introduction of the large mammalia into America has provided them with +increased resources; and in many places, where there are herds of +half-wild cattle, the number of the jaguars is said to be greater than +formerly. It is difficult for one, living in a country where such +fierce animals are unknown, to believe that they may have an influence +over man to such an extent as to prevent his settling in a particular +place; yet such is the fact. In many parts of South America, not only +plantations, but whole villages, have been abandoned solely from fear of +the jaguars! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +A FAMILY OF JAGUARS. + +As yet none of the exiles had seen any tracks or indications of the +terrible jaguar, and Don Pablo began to believe that there were none in +that district of country. He was not allowed to remain much longer in +this belief, for an incident occurred shortly after proving that at +least one pair of these fierce animals was not far off. + +It was near the end of the summer, and the cinchona-trees on the side of +the river on which stood the house had been all cut down and "barked." +It became necessary, therefore, to cross the stream in search of others. +Indeed, numerous "manchas" had been seen on the other side, and to +these the "cascarilleros" now turned their attention. They, of course, +reached them by crossing the tree-bridge, and then keeping up the stream +on the farther side. + +For several days they had been at work in this new direction, and were +getting bark in by the hundredweight. + +One day Guapo and Leon had gone by themselves--Guapo to fell the trees +as usual, and Leon, who was now an expert bark-peeler, to use the +scalping-knife. Don Pablo had remained at home, busy with work in the +great magazine, for there was much to do there in the packing and +storing. + +An hour or two after, Guapo was seen to return alone. He had broken the +handle of his axe, and, having several spare ones at the house, he had +returned to get one. Leon had remained in the woods. + +Now Leon had finished his operations on such trees as Guapo had already +cut down, and not finding a good seat near, had walked towards the +precipice which was farther up the hill, and sat down upon one of the +loose rocks at its base. Here he amused himself by watching the parrots +and toucans that were fluttering through the trees over his head. + +He noticed that just by his side there was a large hole or cave in the +cliff. He could see to the farther end of it from where he sat, but +curiosity prompted him to step up to its mouth, and give it a closer +examination. On doing so, he heard a noise, not unlike the mew of a +cat. It evidently came from the cave, and only increased his curiosity +to look inside. He put his head to the entrance, and there, in a sort +of nest, upon the bottom of the cave, he perceived two creatures, +exactly like two spotted kittens, only larger. They were about half as +big as full-grown cats. + +"_Two_ beauties!" said Leon to himself; "they are the kittens of some +wild cat--that's plain. Now we want a cat very much at home. If these +were brought up in the house, why shouldn't they do? I'll warrant +they'd be tame enough. I know mamma wants a cat. I've heard her say +so. I'll give her an agreeable surprise by taking this pair home.--The +beauties!" + +Without another word Leon climbed up, and taking hold of the two spotted +animals, returned with them out of the cave. They were evidently very +young creatures, yet for all that they growled, and spat, and attempted +to scratch his hands; but Leon was not a boy to be frightened at +trifles, and after getting one under each arm, he set off in triumph, +intending to carry them direct to the house. + +Guapo was in front of the house busy in new-hafting his axe. Don Pablo +was at his work in the store-room. Dona Isidora and the little Leona +were occupied with some affair in the porch. All were engaged one way +or other. Just then a voice sounded upon their ears, causing them all +to stop their work, and look abroad. It even brought Don Pablo out of +the store-house. It was the voice of Leon, who shouted from the other +side of the lake, where they all saw him standing, with a strange object +under each arm. + +"Hola!" cried he. "Look, mamma! See what I've got! I've brought you a +couple of cats--beauties, ain't they?" And as he said this, he held the +two yellow bodies out before him. + +Don Pablo turned pale, and even the coppery cheek of Guapo blanched at +the sight. Though at some distance, both knew at a glance what they +were. Cats, indeed! _They were the cubs of the jaguar_! + +"My God!" cried Don Pablo, hoarse with affright. "My God! the boy will +be lost!" and as he spoke he swept the upper edge of the lake with an +anxious glance. + +"Run, little master!" shouted Guapo. "Run for your life; make for the +bridge--for the bridge!" + +Leon seemed astonished. He knew by the words of Guapo, and the earnest +gestures of the rest, that there was some danger:--but of what? Why was +he to run? He could not comprehend it. He hesitated, and might have +stayed longer on the spot, had not his father, seeing his indecision, +shouted out to him in a loud voice-- + +"Run, boy! run! The jaguars are after you!" + +This speech enabled Leon to comprehend his situation for the first time, +and he immediately started off towards the bridge, running as fast as he +was able. + +Don Pablo had not seen the jaguars when he spoke, but his words were +prophetic, and that prophecy was speedily verified. They had hardly +been uttered when two yellow bodies, dashing out of the brushwood, +appeared near the upper end of the lake. There was no mistaking what +they were. Their orange flanks and ocellated sides were sufficiently +characteristic. _They were jaguars_! + +A few springs brought them to the edge of the water, and they were seen +to take the track over which Leon had just passed. They were following +by the scent--sometimes pausing--sometimes one passing the other--and +their waving tails and quick energetic movements showed that they were +furious and excited to the highest degree. Now they disappeared behind +the palm-trunks, and the next moment their shining bodies shot out again +like flashes of light. + +Dona Isidora and the little Leona screamed with affright. Don Pablo +shouted words of encouragement in a hoarse voice. Guapo seized his +axe--which fortunately he had finished hafting--and ran towards the +bridge, along the water's edge. Don Pablo followed with his pistols, +which he had hastily got his hands upon. + +For a short moment there was silence on both sides of the river. Guapo +was opposite Leon, both running. The stream narrowed as it approached +the ravine, and Leon and Guapo could see each other, and hear every word +distinctly. Guapo now cried out-- + +"Drop one! young master--_only one_!" + +Leon heard, and, being a sharp boy, understood what was meant. Up to +this moment he had not thought of parting with his "cats"--in fact, it +was because he had _not_ thought of it. Now, however, at the voice of +Guapo, he flung one of them to the ground, without stopping to see where +it fell, he ran on, and in a few seconds again heard Guapo cry +out--"_Now the other_!" + +Leon let the second slip from his grasp, and kept on for the bridge. + +It was well he had dropped the cubs, else he would never have reached +that bridge. When the first one fell the jaguars were not twenty paces +behind him. They were almost in sight, but by good fortune the weeds +and underwood hid the pursued from the pursuers. + +On reaching their young, the first that had been dropped, both stopped, +and appeared to lick and caress it. They remained by it but a moment. +One parted sooner than the other--the female it was, no doubt, in search +of her second offspring. Shortly after the other started also, and both +were again seen springing along the trail in pursuit. A few stretches +brought them to where the second cub lay, and here they again halted, +caressing this one as they had done the other. + +Don Pablo and Dona Isidora, who saw all this from the other side, were +in hopes that having recovered their young, the jaguars might give over +the chase, and carry them off. But they were mistaken in this. The +American tiger is of a very different nature. Once enraged, he will +seek revenge with relentless pertinacity. It so proved. After delaying +a moment with the second cub, both left it, and sprang forward upon the +trail, which they knew had been taken by whoever had robbed them. + +By this time Leon had gained the bridge--had crossed it--and was lifted +from its nearer end by Guapo. The latter scarce spoke a word--only +telling Leon to hurry toward the house. For himself he had other work +to do than run. The bridge he knew would be no protection. The jaguars +would cross over it like squirrels, and then-- + +Guapo reflected no further, but bending over the thick branch, attacked +it with his axe. His design was apparent at once. He was going to cut +it from the cliff! + +He plied the axe with all his might. Every muscle in his body was at +play. Blow succeeded blow. The branch was already creaking, when, to +his horror, the foremost of the jaguars appeared in sight on the +opposite side! He was not discouraged. Again fell the axe--again and +again; the jaguar is upon the bank; it has sprung upon the root of the +tree! It pauses a moment--another blow of the axe--the jaguar bounds +upon the trunk--its claws rattle along the bark--it is midway over the +chasm! Another blow--the branch crackles--there is a crash--it parts +from the cliff--it is gone! Both tree and jaguar gone--down--down to +the sharp rocks of the foaming torrent! + +A loud yell from the Indian announced his triumph. But it was not yet +complete. It was the female jaguar--the smaller one that had fallen. +The male still remained--where was he? Already upon the opposite brink +of the chasm! + +He had dashed forward, just in time to see his mate disappearing into +the gulf below. He saw and seemed to comprehend, all that had passed. +His eyes glared with redoubled fury. There was vengeance in his look, +and determination in his attitude. + +For a moment he surveyed the wide gulf that separated him from his +enemies. He seemed to measure the distance at a glance. His heart was +bold with rage and despair. He had lost his companion--his faithful +partner--his wife. Life was nothing now--he resolved upon revenge or +death! + +He was seen to run a few paces back from the edge of the chasm, and then +turning suddenly, set his body for the spring. + +It would have been beautiful to have beheld the play of his glistening +flanks at that moment had one been out of danger; but Guapo was not, and +he had no pleasure in the sight. Guapo stood upon the opposite brink, +axe in hand, ready to receive him. + +The Indian had not long to wait. With one desperate bound the jaguar +launched his body into the air, and, like lightning, passed to the +opposite bank. His fore-feet only reached it, and his claws firmly +grasped the rock. The rest of his body hung over, clutching the cliff! + +In a moment he would have sprung up, and then woe to his antagonist! but +he was not allowed that moment, for he had scarcely touched the rock +when the Indian leaped forward and struck at his head with the axe. The +blow was not well aimed, and although it stunned the jaguar, he still +clung to the cliff. In setting himself for a second blow, Guapo came +too near, and the next moment the great claws of the tiger were buried +in his foot! + +It is difficult to tell what might have been the result. It would, no +doubt, have been different. Guapo would have been dragged over, and +that was certain death; but at this moment a hand was protruded between +Guapo's legs--the muzzle of a pistol was seen close to the head of the +jaguar--a loud crack rang through the ravine, and when the smoke cleared +away the jaguar was seen no more! + +Guapo, with his foot badly lacerated, was drawn back from the cliff into +the arms of Don Pablo. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +THE RAFT. + +This was the most exciting day that had been passed since their arrival +in the Montana; and considering the result it was well that the +occurrence had taken place. It had rid them of a pair of bad +neighbours--there would soon have been four--that some time or other +would have endangered the lives of some of the party. It was the +opinion of Guapo that they need not, at least for a while, have any fear +of jaguars. It was not likely there was another pair in that district; +although, from the roaming disposition of this animal, fresh ones might +soon make their appearance; and it was deemed best always to act as +though some were already in the neighbourhood. + +The cubs were disposed of. It was not deemed advisable to bring them up +as "cats." After what had occurred that was voted, even by Leon, a +dangerous experiment--too dangerous to be attempted. They were still on +the other side of the river, and the bridge was now gone. If left to +themselves, no doubt they would have perished, as they were very young +things. Perhaps some carnivorous creature--wolf, coati, eagle, or +vulture--would have devoured them, or they might have been eaten up by +the ants. But this was not to be their fate. Guapo swam across, and +strangled them. Then tying them together, he suspended the pair over +his shoulders, and brought them with him to be exhibited as a curiosity. +Moreover Guapo had a design upon their skins. + +It was not long after that a pleasanter pet than either of them was +found, and this was a beautiful little saimiri monkey, about the size of +a squirrel, which Guapo and Leon captured one day in the woods. They +heard a noise as they were passing along, and going up to the spot, saw +on the branch of a low tree nearly a dozen little monkeys all rolled up +together in a heap, with their tails warped round each other as if to +keep themselves warm! Nearly another dozen were running about, whining +and apparently trying to get in among the rest. Guapo and Leon made a +sudden rush upon them, and were able to capture three or four before the +creatures could free themselves; but only one lived, and that became a +great pet and favourite. It was a beautiful little creature--a true +saimiri, or squirrel monkey, called the "titi." Its silky fur was of a +rich olive-green colour; and its fine large eyes expressed fear or joy-- +now filling with tears, and now brightening again--just like those of a +child. + +During the summer our bark-gatherers continued their labour without +interruption, and on account of the great plenty of the cinchona-trees, +and their proximity to the house, they were enabled to accumulate a very +large store. They worked like bees. + +Although this forest life was not without its pleasures and excitements, +yet it began to _grow_ very irksome both to Don Pablo and Dona Isidora. +Life in the wilderness, with its rude cares and rude enjoyments, may be +very pleasant for a while to those who seek it as amateurs, or to that +class who as colonists intend to make it a permanent thing. But neither +Don Pablo nor his wife had ever thought of colonisation. With them +their present industry was the result of accident and necessity. Their +tastes and longings were very different. They longed to return to +civilised life; and though the very misfortune which had driven them +forth into the wilderness had also guided them to an opportunity of +making a fortune, it is probable they would have passed it by, had they +not known that, penniless as they were, they would have fared still +worse in any city to which they might have gone. But before the first +year was out, they yearned very much to return to civilisation, and this +desire was very natural. But there were other reasons that influenced +them besides the mere _ennui_ of the wilderness. The lives of +themselves and their children were constantly in danger from jaguars, +pumas, and poisonous reptiles. Even man himself might at any moment +appear as their destroyer. As yet no Indian--not even a trace of one-- +had been seen. But this was not strange. In the tangled and +impenetrable forests of the Great Montana two tribes of Indians may +reside for years within less than a league's distance of each other, +without either being aware of the other's existence! Scarcely any +intercourse is carried on, or excursions made, except by the rivers--for +they are the only roads--and where two of these run parallel, although +they may be only at a short distance from each other, people residing on +one may never think of crossing to the other. + +Notwithstanding that no Indians had yet appeared to disturb them, there +was no certainty that these might not arrive any day, and treat them as +enemies. On this account, Don Pablo and Dona Isidora were never without +a feeling of uneasiness. + +After mutual deliberation, therefore, they resolved not to prolong their +stay beyond the early part of spring, when they would carry out their +original design of building a _balza_ raft, and commit themselves to the +great river, which, according to all appearance, and to Guapo's +confident belief, flowed directly to the Amazon. Guapo had never either +descended or ascended it himself, and on their first arrival was not so +sure about its course; but after having gone down to its banks, and +examined its waters, his recollections revived, and he remembered many +accounts which he had heard of it from Indians of his own tribe. He had +no doubt but it was the same which, under the name of the "Purus," falls +into the Amazon between the mouths of the Madeira and the Coary. + +Upon this stream, therefore, in a few months they would embark. But +these intervening months were not spent in idleness. Although the +season for bark-gathering was past, another source of industry presented +itself. The bottom lands of the great river were found to be covered +with a network of underwood, and among this underwood the principal +plant was a well-known briar, _Smilax officinalis_. This is the +creeping plant that yields the celebrated "sarsaparilla;" and Don Pablo, +having made an analysis of some roots, discovered it to be the most +valuable species--for it is to be remembered, that, like the cinchona, a +whole genus, or rather several genera, furnish the article of commerce. +The briar which produces the sarsaparilla is a tall creeping plant, +which throws out a large number of long wrinkled roots of a uniform +thickness, and about the size of a goose-quill. Nothing is required +further than digging and dragging these roots out of the ground, drying +them a while, and then binding them in bundles with a small "sipo," or +tough forest creeper. These bundles are made up, so as to render the +roots convenient for packing and transport. + +During several months this branch of industry occupied Don Pablo, Guapo, +and Leon; so that when the time drew nigh for their departure, what with +the cinchona-bark, the sarsaparilla, and the vanilla-beans, there was +not an empty inch in the large store-house. + +Guapo had not been all the time with them. For several days Guapo was +not to be seen at the house, nor anywhere around it. Where had Guapo +been all this time? I will tell you; Guapo _had been to the mountains_! + +Yes, Don Pablo had sent him on an important mission, which he had +performed with secrecy and despatch. Don Pablo, before braving the +dangers of the vast journey he had projected, had still a lingering hope +that something might have happened--some change in the government of +Peru--perhaps a new Viceroy--that might enable him to return with safety +to his native land. To ascertain if such had taken place, Guapo had +made his journey to the mountains. + +He went no farther than the Puna--no farther than the hut of his friend +the vaquero--who, by a previous understanding with Guapo, had kept +himself informed about political matters. + +There was no hope; the same Council, the same Viceroy, the same price +upon the head of Don Pablo--who, however, was believed to have escaped +in an American ship, and to have taken refuge in the great republic of +the North. + +With this news Guapo returned, and now the preparations for the river +voyage were set about in earnest. A balza raft was built out of large +trunks of the _Bombax ceiba_, which, being light wood, was the best for +the purpose. Of course these trunks had been cut long ago with a view +to using them in this way. A commodious cabin, or "toldo," was +constructed on the raft, built of palm and bamboos, and thatched with +the broad leaves of the bussu. A light canoe was also hollowed out, as +a sort of tender to the raft, and a couple of very large canoes for the +purpose of giving buoyancy to it, were lashed one upon each side. The +"merchandise" was carefully "stowed" and covered with "tarpaulins" of +palm-leaves, and the stores laid in with every providential care and +calculation. + +You will be wondering what was done with the horse and mule,--those +creatures that had served the exiles so faithfully and so well? Were +they left behind to become a prey to the jaguars and the large +blood-sucking bats, that kill so many animals in these parts? No--they +were not to be left to such a fate. One of them--the mule--had been +already disposed of. It was a valuable beast, and partly on that +account, and partly from gratitude felt towards it for the well-timed +kick it had given the ocelot, it was to be spared. Guapo had taken both +the mule and the horse on his mountain journey, and presented the former +to his friend the vaquero. + +But the horse was still on hand. What was to be done with him? Leave +him behind? That would be certain death, for no horse, that was not +cared for, could exist in the Montana ten days without being eaten up by +the fierce creatures that inhabit it. The bats would surely have +destroyed him. Well, what was done? He could not be carried on the +raft. But he was, though,--_in a way_. Guapo was resolved that the +bats should not have him, nor the jaguars neither. He was in fine +condition--fat as a pig. The fruit of the murumuru had agreed with him. +He was just in the condition in which an Indian thinks a horse "good +for killing," and _Guapo killed him_! Yes, Guapo killed him! It is +true it was a sort of a Virginius tragedy, and Guapo had great +difficulty in nerving himself for the task. But the blow-gun was at +length levelled, and the _curare_ did its work. Then Guapo skinned him, +and cut him into strips, and dried him into "charqui," and carried him +on board the raft. That was the closing scene. + +All left the house together, carrying with them the remains of their +hastily-created _penates_. On reaching the end of the valley, they +turned and threw back a last glance at a home that had to them been a +happy one; and then, continuing their journey, they were soon upon the +balza. The only living creature that accompanied them from their +valley-home was the pretty saimiri, carried on the shoulder of the +little Leona. + +The cable of piassaba-palm was carefully taken in and coiled, the raft +was pushed out, and the next moment floated lightly upon the broad bosom +of the river. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE GUARDIAN BROTHER. + +The current of the river flowed at the rate of about four miles an hour, +and at this speed they travelled. They had nothing to do but guide the +raft in the middle part of the stream. This was effected by means of a +large stern-oar fixed upon a pivot, and which served the purpose of a +rudder. One was required to look after this oar, and Don Pablo and +Guapo took turns at it. It was not a very troublesome task, except +where some bend had to be got round, or some eddy was to be cleared, +when both had to work at it together. At other times the balza floated +straight on, without requiring the least effort on the part of the crew; +and then they would all sit down and chat pleasantly, and view the +changing scenery of the forest-covered shores. Sometimes tall palms +lined the banks, and sometimes great forest trees netted together by +thick parasites that crept from one to the other, and twined around the +trunks like monster serpents. Sometimes the shores were one unbroken +thicket of underwood, where it would have been almost impossible to make +a landing had they wished it. At other places there were sand-bars, and +even little islets with scarce any vegetation upon them; and they also +passed many other islets and large islands thickly wooded. The country +generally appeared to be flat, though at one or two places they saw +hills that ran in to the banks of the river. + +Of course the change of scenery, and the many fresh vistas continually +opening before them, rendered their voyage both cheerful and +interesting. The many beautiful birds too, and new kinds of trees and +animals which they saw, were a constant source of varied enjoyment, and +furnished them with themes of conversation. + +During the first day they made a journey of full forty miles. Having +brought their balza close to the shore, and secured it to a tree, they +encamped for the night. There was no opening of any extent, but for +some distance the ground was clear of underwood, and the trunks of great +old trees rose like columns losing themselves amidst the thick foliage +overhead. A dark forest only could be seen, and, as night drew on, the +horrid cries of the alouattes, or howling monkeys, mingling with the +voices of other nocturnal animals, filled the woods. They had no fear +of monkeys, but now and then they thought they could distinguish the cry +of the jaguar, and of him they had fear enough. Indeed the jaguar +possesses the power of imitating the cry of the other animals of the +forest, and often uses it to draw them within reach of him. + +In addition to the fire upon which they had cooked their supper, as soon +as night had fairly set in, they kindled others, forming a sort of +semicircle, the chord of which was the bank of the river itself. Within +this semicircle the hammocks were stretched from tree to tree; and, as +all were fatigued with the day's exertions, they climbed into them at an +early hour, and were soon asleep. One alone sat up to keep watch. As +they thought they had heard the jaguar, this was deemed best; for they +knew that fire will not always frighten off that fierce animal. As the +neighbourhood looked suspicious, and also as it was their first +encampment, they, like all travellers at setting out, of course were +more timid and cautious. + +To Leon was assigned the first watch; for Leon was a courageous boy, and +it was not the first time he had taken his turn in this way. He was to +sit up for about two hours, and then wake Guapo, who would keep the +midnight-watch; after which Don Pablo's turn would come, and that would +terminate in the morning at daybreak. Leon was instructed to rouse the +others in case any danger might threaten the camp. + +Leon from choice had seated himself by the head of the hammock in which +slept the little Leona; in order, no doubt, to be nearer her, as she was +the most helpless of the party, and therefore required more immediate +protection. He had both the pistols by him--ready to his hand and +loaded--and in case of danger he knew very well how to use them. + +He had been seated for about half-an-hour, now casting his eyes up to +the red and wrinkled trunks of the trees, and then gazing into the dark +vistas of the surrounding forest, or at other times looking out upon the +glistening surface of the river. Many a strange sound fell upon his +ear. Sometimes the whole forest appeared to be alive with voices--the +voices of beasts and birds, reptiles, and insects--for the tree-frogs +and ciendas were as noisy as the larger creatures. At other times a +perfect stillness reigned, so that he could distinctly hear the tiny hum +of the mosquito; and then, all at once, would fall upon his ear the +melancholy wailing of the night-hawk--the "_alma perdida_," or "lost +soul"--for such is the poetical and fanciful name given by the Spanish +Americans to this nocturnal bird. + +While thus engaged Leon began to feel very drowsy. The heavy day's +work, in which he had borne part, had fatigued him as well as the +others; and, in spite of the odd voices that from time to time fell upon +his ear, he could have lain down upon the bare ground and slept without +a feeling of fear. Snakes or scorpions, or biting lizards or spiders, +would not have kept him from going to sleep at that moment. It is +astonishing how the desire of sleep makes one indifferent to all these +things, which at other times we so much dread. Leon did not fear them a +bit, but kept himself awake from a feeling of pride and honour. He +reflected that it would never do to be unfaithful to the important trust +confided to him. No that would never do. He rubbed his eyes, and rose +up, and approached the bank, and dipped his hands in the water, and came +back to his former place, and sat down again. Spite of all his efforts, +however, he felt very heavy. Oh! when would the two hours pass that he +might rouse Guapo? + +"Car-r-ambo! I nev-er was so s-s-sleepy. _Vamos_! Leon! you mustn't +give in!" + +And striking himself a lively slap on the chest, he straightened his +back, and sat upright for a while. + +He was just beginning to get bowed about the shoulders again, and to nod +a little, when he was startled by a short sharp exclamation uttered by +the little Leona. He looked up to her hammock. He could perceive it +had moved slightly, but it was at rest again, and its occupant was +evidently asleep. + +"Poor little sis! she is dreaming," he muttered half aloud. "Perhaps +some horrid dream of jaguars or serpents. I have half a mind to awake +her. But, no, she sleeps too soundly; I might disturb them all;" and +with these reflections Leon remained upon his seat. + +Once more his head was beginning to bob, when the voice of Leona again +startled him, and he looked up as before. The hammock moved slightly, +but there was no appearance of anything wrong. From where he sat he +could not see well into it, but he outlines of the child's body were +easily discernible through the elastic netting; and at the farther end +he could just perceive one of her little feet, where it had escaped from +the covering, and rested partly over the edge. + +As he continued to gaze upon the delicate member, thinking whether he +had not better cover it against the mosquitoes, all at once his eye was +attracted by something red--a crooked red line that traversed from the +toe downward along the side of the foot. It was red and glittering--it +was _a stream of blood_! + +His first feeling was one of horror. His next was a resolve to spring +to his feet and rouse the camp, but this impulse was checked by one of +greater prudence. Whatever enemy had done it, thought he, must still be +about the hammock; to make a noise would, perhaps, only irritate it, and +cause it to inflict some still more terrible wound. He would remain +quiet, until he had got his eyes upon the creature, when he could spring +upon it, or fire his pistol before it could do further harm. + +With these ideas, quickly conceived, he rose silently to his feet, and +standing, or rather crouching forward, bent his eyes over the hammock. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +THE VAMPIRE. + +Leon's head was close to that of the sleeper, whose sweet breath he +felt, and whose little bosom rose and fell in gentle undulation. He +scanned the inside of the hammock from head to foot. He gazed anxiously +into every fold of the cover. Not an object could he see that should +not have been there--no terrible creature--no serpent--for it was this +last that was in his mind. But something must have been there. What +could have caused the stream of blood, that now being closer he could +more plainly see trickling over the soft blue veins? Some creature must +have done it! + +"Oh! if it be the small viper," thought he, "or the coral snake, or the +deadly macaurel! If these--" + +His thoughts at this moment were interrupted. A light flapping of wings +sounded in his ear--so light, that it appeared to be made by the soft +pinions of the owl, or some nocturnal bird. It was not by the wings of +a bird that that sound was produced, but by the wings of a hideous +creature. Leon was conscious, from the continued flapping, that +something was playing through the air, and that it occasionally +approached close to his head. He gazed upward and around him, and at +length he could distinguish a dark form passing between him and the +light; but it glided into the darkness again, and he could see it no +more. Was it a bird? It looked like one--it might have been an owl--it +was full as large as one; but yet, from the glance he had had of it, it +appeared to be black or very dark, and he had never heard of owls of +that colour. Moreover, it had not the look nor flight of an owl. Was +it a bird at all? or whatever it was, was it the cause of the blood? +This did not appear likely to Leon, who still had his thoughts bent upon +the snakes. + +While he was revolving these questions in his mind, he again turned and +looked toward the foot of the hammock. The sight caused him a thrill of +horror. There was the hideous creature, which he had just seen, right +over the bleeding foot. It was not perched, but suspended in the air on +its moving wings, with its long snout protruded forward and pressed +against the toe of the sleeper! Its sharp white teeth were visible in +both jaws, and its small vicious eyes glistened under the light of the +fires. The red hair covering its body and large membranous wings added +to the hideousness of its aspect, and a more hideous creature could not +have been conceived. _It was the vampire_,--the blood-sucking +_phyllostoma_! + +A short cry escaped from the lips of Leon. It was not a cry of pain, +but the contrary. The sight of the great bat, hideous as the creature +was, relieved him. He had all along been under the painful impression +that some venomous serpent had caused the blood to flow, and now he had +no farther fear on that score. He knew that there was no poison in the +wound inflicted by the phyllostoma--only the loss of a little blood; and +this quieted his anxieties at once. He resolved, however, to punish the +intruder; and not caring to rouse the camp by firing, he stole a little +closer, and aimed a blow with the butt of his pistol. The blow was well +aimed, and brought the bat to the ground, but its shrill screeching +awoke everybody, and in a few moments the camp was in complete +confusion. The sight of the blood on the foot of the little Leona quite +terrified Dona Isidora and the rest; but when the cause was explained, +all felt reassured and thankful that the thing was no worse. The little +foot was bound up in a rag; and although, for two or three days after, +it was not without pain, yet no bad effects came of it. + +The "blood-sucking" bats do not cause death either to man, or any other +animal, by a single attack. All the blood they can draw out amounts to +only a few ounces, although after their departure, the blood continues +to run from the open wound. It is by repeating their attacks night +after night that the strength of an animal becomes exhausted, and it +dies from sheer loss of blood and consequent faintness. With animals +this is far from being a rare occurrence. Hundreds of horses and cattle +are killed every year in the South American pastures. These creatures +suffer, perhaps, without knowing from what cause, for the phyllostoma +performs its cupping operation without causing the least pain--at all +events the sleeper is very rarely awakened by it. It is easy to +understand how it sucks the blood of its victim, for its snout and the +leafy appendage around its mouth--from whence it derives the name +"phyllostoma"--are admirably adapted to that end. But how does it make +the puncture to "let" the blood? That is as yet a mystery among +naturalists, as it also is among the people who are habitually its +victims. Even Guapo could not explain the process. The large teeth--of +which it has got quite a mouthful--seem altogether unfitted to make a +hole such as is found where the phyllostoma has been at work. Their +bite, moreover, would awake the soundest sleeper. Besides these, it has +neither fangs, nor sting, nor proboscis, that would serve the purpose. +How then does it reach the blood? Many theories have been offered; some +assert that it rubs the skin with its snout until it brings it to +bleeding: others say that it sets the sharp point of one of its large +tusks against the part, and then by plying its wings wheels round and +round, as upon a pivot, until the point has penetrated--that during this +operation the motion of the wings fans and cools the sleeping victim, so +that no pain is felt. It may be a long while before this curious +question is solved, on account of the difficulty of observing a creature +whose habits are nocturnal, and most of whose deeds are "done in the +dark." + +People have denied the existence of such a creature as the blood-sucking +bat--even naturalists have gone so far. They can allege no better +grounds for their incredulity than that the thing has an air of the +fabulous and horrible about it. But this is not philosophy. +Incredulity is the characteristic of the half-educated. It may be +carried too far, and the fables of the vulgar have often a stratum of +truth at the bottom. There is one thing that is almost intolerable, and +that is the conceit of the "closet-naturalist," who sneers at everything +as untrue that seems to show the least _design_ on the part of the brute +creation--who denies everything that appears at all singular or +fanciful, and simply because it appears so. With the truthful +observations that have been made upon the curious domestic economy of +such little creatures as bees, and wasps, and ants, we ought to be +cautious how we reject statements about the habits of other animals, +however strange they may appear. + +Who doubts that a mosquito will perch itself upon the skin of a human +being, pierce it with his proboscis, and suck away until it is gorged +with blood? Why does it appear strange that a bat should do the same? + +Now your closet-naturalist will believe that the bat _does_ suck the +blood of cattle and horses, but denies that it will attack man! This is +sheer nonsense. What difference to the vampire, whether its victim be a +biped or quadruped? Is it fear of the former that would prevent it from +attacking him? Perhaps it may never have seen a human being before: +besides, it attacks its victim while asleep, and is rarely ever caught +or punished in the act. Where these creatures are much hunted or +persecuted by man, they may learn to fear him, and their original habits +may become changed, but that is quite another thing. As nature has +formed them, the blood-sucking bats will make their attack +indifferently, either upon man or large quadrupeds. There are a +thousand proofs to be had in all the tropical regions of America. Every +year animals are killed by the _phyllostoma hastatum_, not in hundreds, +but in thousands. It is recorded that on one extensive cattle-farm +several hundred head were killed in the short period of six months by +the bats; and the vaqueros, who received a bounty upon every bat they +should capture, in one year succeeded in destroying the enormous number +of _seven thousand_! Indeed, "bat-hunting" is followed by some as a +profession, so eager are the owners of the cattle-farms to get rid of +these pests. + +Many tribes of Indians and travellers suffer great annoyance from the +vampire-bats. Some persons never go to sleep without covering +themselves with blankets, although the heat be ever so oppressive. Any +part left naked will be attacked by the phyllostoma, but they seem to +have a preference for the tip of the great toe--perhaps because they +have found that part more habitually exposed. Sometimes one sleeper is +"cupped" by them, while another will not be molested; and this, I may +observe, is true also of the mosquitoes. There may be some difference +as to the state of the blood of two individuals, that leads to this +fastidious preference. Some are far more subject to their attack than +others--so much so that they require to adopt every precaution to save +themselves from being bled to death. Cayenne pepper rubbed over the +skin is used to keep them off, and also to cure the wound they have +made; but even this sometimes proves ineffective. + +Of course there are many species of bats in South America besides the +vampire; in fact, there is no class of mammalia more numerous in genera +and species, and no part of the world where greater numbers are found +than in the tropical regions of America. Some are insect-eaters, while +others live entirely on vegetable substances; but all have the same +unsightly and repulsive appearance. The odour of some kinds is +extremely fetid and disagreeable. Notwithstanding this, they are eaten +by many tribes of Indians, and even the French Creoles of Guiana have +their "bat-soup," which they relish highly. The proverb "_De gustibus +non disputandum est_" seems to be true for all time. The Spanish +Americans have it in the phrase "_Cada uno a su gusto;" "Chacun a son +gout_," say the French; and on hearing these tales about "ant-paste," +and "roast monkey," and "armadillo done in the shell," and "bat-soup," +you, boy reader, will not fail to exclaim "Every one to his liking." + +The vampire appeared to be to Guapo's liking. It was now his turn to +keep watch, and as the rest of them got into their hammocks, and lay +awake for a while, they saw him take up the bat, spit it upon a forked +stick, and commence broiling it over the fire. Of course _he ate it_! + +When morning came, and they had got up, what was their astonishment to +see no less than fourteen bats lying side by side! They were dead, of +course: Guapo had killed them all during his watch. They had appeared +at one period of the night in alarming numbers, and Guapo had done +battle manfully without awaking anybody. + +Another curious tableau came under their notice shortly after. Just as +they were about to embark, a singular-looking tree was observed growing +near the bank of the river. At first they thought the tree was covered +with birds'-nests, or pieces of some kind of moss. Indeed, it looked +more like a tree hung over with rags than anything else. Curiosity led +them to approach it. What was their astonishment to find that the +nests, moss, or rags, were neither more nor less than a vast assemblage +of bats suspended, and asleep! They were hanging in all possible +positions; some with their heads down, some by the claws upon either +wing, and some by both, while a great many had merely hooked over the +branch the little horny curvature of their tails. Some hung down along +the trunk, suspended by a crack in the bark, while others were far out +upon the branches. + +It was certainly the oddest "roost" that any of the party (Guapo, +perhaps, excepted) had ever witnessed; and, after gazing at it for some +time, they turned away without disturbing the sleepers, and getting on +board once more, floated adown the stream swiftly and silently. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +THE MARIMONDAS. + +That day they made good progress, having dropped down the river a +distance of fifty miles at least. They might even have gone farther, +but a good camping-place offered, and they did not like to pass it, as +they might not find another so convenient. It was a muddy bank, or +rather a promontory that ran out into the river, and was entirely +without trees, or any other vegetation, as it was annually overflowed, +and formed, in fact, part of the bed of the river. At this time the mud +was quite dry and smooth, and appeared as if it had been paddled and +beaten down by the feet of animals and birds. This was, in fact, the +case, for the point was a favourite resting-place for the "chiguires," +or "capivaras," on their passage to and from the water. There were +tracks of tapirs, too, and peccaries, and many sorts of wading birds, +that had been there while the mud was still soft. + +There were no trees to which to hang their hammocks, but the ground was +smooth and dry, and they could sleep well enough upon it. They would +not be troubled with the bats, as these creatures keep mostly in the +dark shadowy places of the forest; and snakes would not likely be found +out on the bare ground. They thought they would there be safer from +jaguars, too. In fact, it was from these considerations that they had +chosen the place for their camp. They could go to the woods for an +armful or two of sticks to cook supper with, and that would suffice. + +The balza was brought close in on the upper side of the promontory, so +as to be out of the current; and then all landed and made their +preparations for passing the night. Guapo marched off with his axe to +get some firewood, and Leon accompanied him to assist in carrying it. +They had not far to go--only a hundred yards or so, for up at the end of +the promontory the forest began, and there were both large trees and +underwood. + +As they walked forward one species of trees caught their attention. +They were palm-trees, but of a sort they had not yet met with. They +were very tall, with a thick, globe-shaped head of pinnate, plume-like +leaves. But what rendered these trees peculiar was the stem. It was +slender in proportion to the height of the tree, and was thickly covered +with long needle-shaped spines, not growing irregularly, but set in +bands, or rings, around the tree. This new palm was the "pupunha," or +"peach-palm," as it is called, from the resemblance which its fruits +bear to peaches. It is also named "pirijao" in other parts of South +America, and it belongs to the genus "_Gullielma_." + +At the tops of these trees, under the great globe of leaves, Guapo and +Leon perceived the nuts. They were hanging in clusters, as grapes grow; +but the fruits were as large as apricots, of an oval, triangular shape, +and of a beautiful reddish yellow colour. That they were delicious +eating, either roasted or boiled, Guapo well knew; and he was determined +that some of them should be served at supper. But how were they to be +reached? No man could climb such a tree as they grew upon! The needles +would have torn the flesh from any one who should have attempted it. + +Guapo knew this. He knew, moreover, that the Indians, who are very fond +of the fruit of this tree,--so much so that they plant large _palmares_ +of it around their villages--have a way of climbing it to get at the +ripe clusters. They tie cross pieces of wood from one tree to the +other, and thus make a sort of step-ladder, by which they ascend to the +fruit. It is true, they might easily cut down the trees, as the trunks +are not very thick; but that would be killing the goose that gave the +golden eggs. Guapo, however, had no farther interest in this wild +orchard than to make it serve his turn for that one night; so, laying +his axe to one of the "pupunhas," he soon levelled its majestic stem to +the ground. Nothing more remained than to lop off the clusters, any one +of which was as much as Leon could lift from the ground. Guapo found +the wood hard enough even in its green state, but when old it becomes +black, and is then so hard that it will turn the edge of an axe. There +is, perhaps, no wood in all South America harder than that of the +pirijao palm. + +It is with the needle-like spines of this species that many tribes of +Indians puncture their skins in tattooing themselves, and other uses are +made by them of different parts of this noble tree. The macaws, +parrots, and other fruit-eating birds, are fonder of the nuts of the +pupunha than perhaps any other species; and so, too, would be the +fruit-eating quadrupeds if they could get at them. But the thorny trunk +renders them quite inaccessible to all creatures without wings, +excepting man himself. No; there is one other exception, and that is a +creature closely allied to man, I mean the _monkey_. Notwithstanding +the thorny stem, which even man cannot scale without a contrivance; +notwithstanding the apparently inaccessible clusters--inaccessible from +their great height--there is a species of monkey that manages now and +then to get a meal of them. How do these monkeys manage it? Not by +climbing the stem, for the thorns are too sharp even for them. How +then? Do the nuts fall to the ground and allow the monkeys to gather +them? No. This is not the case. How then? We shall see! + +Guapo and Leon had returned to the camp, taking with them the pupunha +fruit and the firewood. A fire was kindled, the cooking-pot hung over +it on a tripod, and they all sat around to wait for its boiling. + +While thus seated, an unusual noise reached their ears coming from the +woods. There were parrots and macaws among the palms making noise +enough, and fluttering about, but it was not these. The noise that had +arrested the attention of our travellers was a mixture of screaming, and +chattering, and howling, and barking, as if there were fifty sorts of +creatures at the making of it. The bushes, too, were heard "switching +about," and now and then a dead branch would crack, as if snapped +suddenly. To a stranger in these woods such a blending of sounds would +have appeared very mysterious and inexplicable. Not so to our party. +They knew it was only a troop of monkeys passing along upon one of their +journeys. From their peculiar cries, Guapo knew what kind of monkeys +they were. + +"_Marimondas_," he said. + +The marimondas are not true "howlers," although they are of the same +tribe as the "howling monkeys" (_Stentor_). They belong to the genus +_Ateles_, so called because they want the thumb, and are therefore +_imperfect_ or _unfinished_ as regards the hands. But what the ateles +want in hands is supplied by another member--the tail, and this they +have to all perfection. It is to them a fifth hand, and apparently more +useful than the other four. It assists them very materially in +travelling through the tree-tops. They use it to bring objects nearer +them. They use it to suspend themselves in a state of repose, and thus +suspended, they sleep--nay more, thus suspended, they often die! Of all +the monkey tribe the ateles are those that have most prehensile power in +their tails. + +There are several species of them known--the coaita, the white-faced, +the black cayou, the beelzebub, the chamek, the black-handed, and the +marimonda. The habits of all are very similar, though the species +differ in size and colour. + +The marimonda is one of the largest of South American monkeys, being +about three feet standing upon its hind-legs, with a tail of immense +length, thick and strong near the root, and tapering to a point. On its +under side, for the last foot or so from the end, there is no hair, but +a callous skin, and this is the part used for holding on to the +branches. The marimonda is far from being a handsome monkey. Its long, +thin arms and thumb-less hands give it an attenuated appearance, which +is not relieved by the immense disproportioned tail. It is reddish, or +of a parched coffee colour, on the upper part of the body, which becomes +blanched on the throat, belly, and insides of the thighs. Its colour, +in fact, is somewhat of the hue of the half-blood Indian and Negro,-- +hence the marimonda is known in some parts of Spanish America by the +name of "mono zambo," or "zambo" monkey--a "zambo" being the descendant +of Indian and Negro parents. + +The noise made by the marimondas which had been heard by our party +seemed to proceed from the bank of the river, some distance above the +promontory; but it was evidently growing louder every minute, and they +judged that the monkeys were approaching. + +In a few minutes they appeared in sight, passing along the upper part of +a grove of trees that stood close to the water. Our travellers had now +an excellent view of them, and they sat watching them with interest. +Their mode of progression was extremely curious. They never came to the +ground, but where the branches interlocked they ran from one to the +other with the lightning speed of squirrels, or, indeed, like birds upon +the wing. Sometimes, however, the boughs stood far apart. Then the +marimonda, running out as far as the branch would bear him, would warp a +few inches of his tail around it and spring off into the air. In the +spring he would give himself such an impetus as would cause the branch +to revolve, and his body following this circular motion, with the long +thin arms thrown out in front, he would grasp the first branch that he +could reach. This, of course, would land him on a new tree, and over +that he would soon spring to the next. + +Among the troop several females were perceived with their young. The +latter were carried on the backs of the mothers, where they held on by +means of their own little tails, feeling perfectly secure. Sometimes +the mothers would dismount them, and cause them to swing themselves from +branch to branch, going before to show them the way. This was witnessed +repeatedly. In other places, where the intervening space was too wide +for the females with their young to pass over, the males could be seen +bending down a branch of the opposite tree, so as to bring it nearer, +and assist them in crossing. All these movements were performed amidst +a constant gabble of conversation, and shouting, and chattering, and the +noise of branches springing back to their places. + +The grove through which the troop was passing ended just by the edge of +the promontory. The palm-trees succeeded, with some trees of large size +that grew over them. + +The marimondas at length reached the margin of the grove, and then they +were all seen to stop, most of them throwing themselves, heads down, and +hanging only by their tails. This is the position in which they find +themselves best prepared for any immediate action; and it is into this +attitude they throw themselves when suddenly alarmed. They remained so +for some minutes; and from the chattering carried on among them, it was +evident that they were engaged in deliberation. A loud and general +scream proclaimed the result; and all of them, at one and the same +instant, dropped down to the ground, and were seen crossing over among +the palm-trees. + +They had to pass over a piece of open ground with only some weeds upon +it; but their helplessness on the ground was at once apparent. They +could not place their palms on the surface, but doubled them up and +walked, as it were, on the backs of their hands in the most awkward +manner. Every now and again, they flung out their great tails, in hopes +of grasping something that would help them along; and even a large weed +was a welcome support to them. On the ground they were evidently "out +of their element." In fact, the _ateles_ rarely descend from the trees, +which are their natural _habitat_. + +At length they reached the palms; and, seated in various attitudes, +looked up at the tempting fruit, all the while chattering away. How +were they to reach it? Not a tree that was not covered with long +needles--not a bunch of the luscious fruit that was not far above the +height of the tallest marimonda! How were they to get at it?--that was +the question. It might have been a puzzling question to so many boys-- +to the monkeys it was not; for in less than a score of seconds they had +settled it in their minds how the pupunhas were to be plucked. + +Rising high over the palms grew a large tree, with long out-reaching +branches. It was the "zamang" tree--a species of _mimosa_, and one of +the most beautiful trees of South America. Its trunk rose full seventy +feet without a branch; and then it spread out in every direction in +numerous horizontal limbs, that forked and forked again until they +became slender boughs. Those branches were clad with the delicate +pinnate leaves that characterise the family of the mimosas. + +Many of the pupunha palms grew under the shadow of this zamang, but not +the tallest ones. These were farther out. There were some, however, +whose tufted crowns reached within a few yards of the lower limbs of the +mimosa. + +The monkeys, after a short consultation, were seen scampering up the +zamang. Only some of the old and strong ones went--the rest remained +watching below. + +From the earnestness of their looks it was evident they felt a lively +interest in the result. So, too, did the party of travellers; for these +watched so closely, that the pot was in danger of boiling over. + +The marimondas, having climbed the trunk, ran out upon the lowermost +limbs, until they were directly above the palms. Then one or two were +seen to drop off, and hang down by their tails. But, although, with +their fore-arms at full stretch, they hung nearly five feet from the +branch, they could not even touch the highest fronds of the palms, much +less the fruit-clusters that were ten or twelve feet farther down. They +made repeated attempts; suspending themselves over the very tallest +palms, but all to no purpose. + +One would have supposed they would have given it up as a bad job. So +thought Dona Isidora, Leon, and the little Leona. Don Pablo knew better +by his reading, and Guapo by his experience. Whey they saw that no one +of them could reach the nuts, several were seen to get together on one +of the branches. After a moment one dropped down head-foremost as +before, and hung at his full length. Another ran down the body of this +one, and taking a turn of his tail round his neck and fore-arm, skipped +off and also hung head downwards. A third joined himself on to the +second in a similar manner, and then a fourth. The fore-arms of the +fourth rested upon the fruit-cluster of the pupunha! + +The chain was now long enough for the purpose. In a few minutes the +last monkey on the chain, with his teeth and hands, had separated the +foot-stalk of the spathes, and the great clusters--two of them there +were--fell heavily to the bottom of the tree. The marimondas on the +ground ran forward; and, in the midst of loud rejoicings, began to pull +off the "peaches" and devour them. But the monkeys above did not cease +their labours. There were many mouths to feed, and they wanted more +nuts. Without changing their position, they, by means of their arms and +legs, threw themselves into a vibrating motion, and by this means the +last on the string soon seized upon another pupunha, and also detached +its fruit. In this way they continued, until they had stripped every +tree within their reach; when, judging they had got enough, the +lowermost monkey _climbed back upon himself_, then up his companions to +the branch, and in the same style was followed by the other three in +succession. As soon as they were clear of one another, the whole party +tame down by the trunk to the ground, and joined their comrades below in +the luxurious repast. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +THE MONKEY MOTHER. + +Now you will, perhaps, imagine that Guapo, having sat so quiet during +all this scene, had no desire for a bit of roast-monkey to supper. In +that fancy, then, you would be quite astray from the truth. Guapo had a +_strong_ desire to eat roast marimonda that very night; and, had he not +been held back by Don Pablo, he would never have allowed the monkeys to +get quietly out of the zamang--for it being an isolated tree, it would +have afforded him a capital opportunity of "treeing" them. His blow-gun +had been causing his fingers to itch all the time; and as soon as Don +Pablo and the rest were satisfied with observing the monkeys, Guapo set +out, blow-gun in hand, followed by Leon. + +There was no cover by which he might approach the group; and, therefore, +no course was left for him but to run up as quickly forward as possible +and take his chance of getting a shot as they made off. + +This course he pursued; but, before he was within anything like fair +range, the monkeys, uttering their shrill screams, scampered over the +open ground, much faster than before, and took to the grove, from which +they had approached the spot. + +Guapo followed at a slashing pace, and was soon under the trees, Leon at +his heels. Here they were met by a shower of sticks, pieces of bark, +half-eaten "peaches," and something that was far less pleasant to their +olfactory nerves! All these came from the tops of the trees--the very +tallest ones--to which the monkeys had retreated, and where they were +now hidden among the llianas and leaves. + +You may fancy that it is easy to pursue a troop of monkeys in a forest. +But it is not easy--in most cases it is not _possible_. The tangled +underwood below puts a stop to the chase at once, as the monkeys can +make their way through the branches above much quicker than the hunter +can through the creeping plants below. + +The pursuit would have been all up with Guapo, for the marimondas had +soon got some way beyond the edge of the grove; but just as he was +turning to sulk back, his keen Indian eye caught sight of one that was +far behind the rest--so far, indeed, that it seemed determined to seek +its safety rather by hiding than by flight. It had got under cover of a +bunch of leaves, and there it lay quiet, uttering neither sound nor +syllable. Guapo could just see a little bit of its side, and at this in +an instant the gravatana was pointed. Guapo's chest and cheeks were +seen to swell out to their fullest extent, and off went the arrow. A +shriek followed--the monkey was hit--beyond a doubt. Guapo coolly +waited the result. + +A movement was visible among the leaves; the marimonda was seen to turn +and double about, and pluck something from its side; and then the broken +arrow came glancing among the twigs, and fell to the ground. The monkey +was now perceived to be twisting and writhing upon the branches, and its +wild death-scream was answered by the voices of the others farther off. + +At length its body was seen more distinctly; it no longer thought of +concealment; but lay out along the limb; and the next moment it dropped +off. It did not fall to the ground, though. It had no design of +gratifying its cruel destroyer to that extent. No; it merely dropped to +the end of its tail, which, lapped over the branch, held it suspended. +A few convulsive vibrations followed, and it hung down dead! + +Guapo was thinking in what way he might get it down, for he knew that, +unless he could reach it by some means, it would hang there until the +weather rotted it off, or until some preying bird or the tree-ants had +eaten it. He thought of his axe--the tree was not a very thick one, and +it was a soft-wood tree. It would be worth the labour of cutting it +down. + +He was about turning away to get the axe, when his eye was attracted by +the motion of some object near the monkey. + +"Another!" he muttered, and, sure enough, another,--a little tiny +creature,--ran out from among the leaves, and climbing down the tail and +body of the one already shot, threw its arms around her neck and whined +piteously. It was the young one--Guapo had shot the mother! + +The sight filled Leon with pity and grief; but Guapo knew nothing of +these sentiments. He had already inserted another arrow into his +gravatana, and was raising the tube to bend it, when, all at once, there +was a loud rustling among the leaves above--a large marimonda that had +returned from the band was seen springing out upon the branch--he was +the husband and father! + +He did not pause a moment. Instinct or quick perception taught him that +the female was dead: his object was to save the young one. + +He threw his long tail down, and grasping the little creature in its +firm hold, jerked it upward; and then, mounting it on his back, bore it +off among the branches! + +All this passed so quickly, that Guapo had not time to deliver his +second arrow. Guapo saw them no more. + +The Indian, however, was not to be cheated out of his supper of +roast-monkey. He walked quietly back for his axe; and bringing it up, +soon felled the tree, and took the marimonda mother with him to the +camp. + +His next affair was to skin it, which he did by stripping the pelt from +the head, arms, legs, and all; so that, after being skinned, the +creature bore a most hideous resemblance to a child! + +The process of cooking came next, and this Guapo made more tedious than +it might have been, as he was resolved to dress the marimonda after the +manner practised by the Indians, and which by them is esteemed the best. +He first built a little stage out of split laths of the pupunha palm. +For this a hard wood that will resist fire a long time is necessary, and +the pupunha was just the thing. Under this stage Guapo kindled a fire +of dry wood, and upon the laths he placed his monkey in a sitting +posture, with its arms crossed in front, and its head resting upon them. +The fire was then blown upon, until it became a bright blaze, which +completely enveloped the half upright form of the monkey. There was +plenty of smoke; but this is nothing in the eyes of a South American +Indian, many of whom prefer the "smoky flavour" in a roast monkey. + +Guapo had now no more to do, but wait patiently until the body should be +reduced to a black and charred mass, for this is the condition in which +it is eaten by these strange people. When thus cooked, the flesh +becomes so dry that it will keep for months without spoiling. + +The white people who live in the _monkey countries_ eat roast monkey as +well as the Indians. Many of them, in fact, grow very fond of it. They +usually dress it, however, in a different manner. They take off the +head and hands before bringing it to the table; so that the "child-like" +appearance is less perceptible. + +Some species of monkeys are more delicate food than others, and there +are some kinds that _white_ monkey-eaters will not touch. + +As for the Indians, it seems with them to be "all fish," etcetera; and +they devour all kinds indifferently, whether they be "howlers," or +"ateles," or "capuchins," or "ouistitis," or "sajous," or "sakis," or +whatever sort. In fact, among many Indian tribes, monkey stands in the +same place that mutton does in England; and they consider it their +staple article of flesh-meat. Indeed, in these parts, no other animal +is so common as the monkey; and, with the exception of birds and fish, +they have little chance of getting any other species of animal food. +The best "Southdown" would, perhaps, be as distasteful to them as monkey +meat would be to you; so here again we are met by that same eternal +proverb,--"_Chacun a son gout_." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +AN UNEXPECTED GUEST. + +Guapo sat by the fire patiently awaiting the "doing" of the marimonda. +The rest had eaten their supper, and were seated some distance apart. +They were looking out upon the broad river, and watching the movements +of the various birds. They could see tall scarlet flamingoes on the +farther shore, and smaller birds of the ibis kind. They could see the +"tiger crane," so called from its colour and spots resembling the +markings of the jaguar. Among some tall canes on the banks the +"ciganos," or gipsy birds, fluttered about with their great crest, +looking like so many pheasants, but far inferior to these creatures in +their flesh. In fact, the flesh of the "cigano" is so bitter and +disagreeable that even _Indians will not eat it_. Sitting upon a naked +branch that projected over the water they noticed the solitary sky-blue +king-fisher (_Alcedon_). Over the water swept the great harpy eagle-- +also a fisher like his whiteheaded cousin of the North; and now and then +flocks of muscovy ducks made the air resound with their strong broad +wings. + +They saw also the "boat-bill," or "crab-eater" (_Cancroma_), a curious +wading bird of the heron kind, with a large bill shaped like two boats +laid with their concave sides against each other. This, like the +kingfisher, sat solitarily upon a projecting stump, now and then dashing +into the shallow water, and scooping up the small fishes, frogs, and +Crustacea with its huge mandibles. + +Another curious bird was observed, which had something of the appearance +of the water-hen--to which kind it is also assimilated in its habits. +It was the "faithful jacana," or "chuza," as it is called in some +places. There are several species of "jacana" in South America, and +also some species in the tropical countries of the East. That known as +the "faithful jacana" has a body about the size of a common fowl; but +its legs and neck are longer, so that when standing it is a foot and a +half in height. The body is of a brownish colour; and there is a crest +of twelve black feathers on the nape of the neck, three inches in +length. At the bend of the wings there are horny spurs, half an inch +long, with which the bird can defend itself when attacked. It is, +however, a pacific bird, and only uses them in defence. The most +singular character of the jacana is its long toes and claws. There are +four upon each foot: three in front, and one directed backwards, and +when standing these cover a base nearly as large as the body of the +bird; and, indeed, upon ordinary ground they interfere with the freedom +of its walking. But these spreading feet were not designed for ordinary +ground. They were given it to enable it to pass lightly _over_ the +leaves of water-lilies, and other yielding surfaces, through which a +narrow-footed bird would at once sink. Of course as nature designed +them for this purpose, they answer admirably, and the jacana skims along +the surface of lily-covered ponds or streams without sinking. From the +leaves it picks up such insects and larvae as lodge there, and which +form its principal food. + +The jacana utters a singular cry when alarmed. It remains silent during +the whole day, and also at night, unless disturbed by the approach of +some danger, when it utters its "alarm cry." So quick is its ear, that +it can detect the least noise or rustling caused by any one approaching. +For this reason some tribes of Indians have tamed the jacana, and use +it as a sentinel or "watch-dog," to apprise them of the approach of +their enemies during the darkness of the night. Another use is also +made of it by the Spanish-Americans. It is tamed and allowed to go +about along with the domestic poultry. When these are attacked by hawks +or other birds of prey, the jacana defends them with its sharp +wing-spurs, and generally succeeds in beating off the enemy. It never +deserts the flock, but accompanies it in all its movements, and will +defend its charge with great fury and courage. + +Besides the water-birds which were noticed by our travellers, many kinds +were seen by them upon the shore and fluttering among the trees. There +were parrots in flocks, and macaws in pairs--for these birds usually go +in twos--there were trogons, and great billed toucans, and their kindred +the aracaris; and there, too, were "umbrella-chatterers," of which there +is a species quite white; and upon a fruit-covered tree, not far off, +they saw a flock of the snow-white "bell-birds" (_Casmarhynchos_). +These are about as large as blackbirds, with broad bills, from the base +of which grows a fleshy tubercle that hangs down to the length of nearly +three inches, like that of the turkey-cock. The name of "bell-birds" is +given to them on account of the clear, bell-like ring of their note, +which they utter about the middle of the day, when most other creatures +of the tropical world are in silence or asleep. + +Of course Don Pablo as a naturalist was interested in all those birds, +and observed their habits and movements with attention. There was none +of them about which he had not some strange story to tell, and in this +way he was beguiling the after-supper hour. It was too early for them +to go to rest--indeed it was not quite sunset; and Guapo for one had not +yet had his supper, although that meal was now very near at hand. The +marimonda was becoming charred and black, and would soon be ready for +mastication. + +Guapo sat by the fire, now and again raking up the cinders with a long +pole which he held in his hand, while his eyes from time to time rested +on the marimonda that was directly in front of him, _vis-a-vis_. + +At length the monkey appeared to him to be "done to a turn," and with +his _machete_ in one hand, and a forked stick in the other, he was just +bending forward to lift it off the fire, when, to his horror, the ground +was felt to move beneath him, causing him to stagger, and almost +throwing him from his feet! Before he could recover himself, the +surface again heaved up, and a loud report was heard, like the explosion +of some terrible engine. Then another upheaval--another report--the +ground opened into a long fissure--the staging of palms, and the +half-burned cinders, and the charred monkey, were flung in all +directions, and Guapo himself went sprawling upon his back! + +Was it an earthquake? So thought the others, who were now on their feet +running about in great consternation--the females screaming loudly. So, +too, thought Guapo for the moment. + +Their belief in its being an earthquake, however, was of short duration. +The shocks continued; the dried mud flew about in large pieces, and the +burnt wood and splinters were showered in the air. The smoke of these +covered the spot, and prevented a clear view; but through the smoke the +terrified spectators could perceive that some large body was in motion-- +apparently struggling for life! In another moment it broke through the +bending stratum of mud, causing a long rift, and there was displayed +before their eyes the hideous form of a gigantic crocodile! + +Though not quite so terrible as an earthquake, it was a fearful monster +to behold. It was one of the largest, being nearly twenty feet in +length, with a body thicker than that of a man. Its immense jaws were +of themselves several feet long, and its huge tusks, plainly seen, gave +it a most frightful appearance. Its mouth was thrown open, as though it +gasped for air, and a loud bellowing proceeded from its throat that +sounded like a cross between the grunting of a hog and the lowing of a +bull. The air was filled with a strong musky odour, which emanated from +the body of the animal; and, what with the noise made by the crocodile +itself, the screams and shouts of the party, the yelling of the various +birds--for they, too, had taken up the cue--there was for some moments +an utter impossibility of any voice being heard above the rest. It was, +indeed, a scene of confusion. Don Pablo and his companions were running +to and fro--Guapo was tumbling about where he had fallen--and the great +lizard was writhing and flapping his tail, so that pots, pans, +half-burnt faggots, and even Guapo's monkey, were being knocked about in +every direction. + +Of course such a violent scene could not be of long duration. It must +end one way or the other. Guapo, who soon came to himself, now that he +saw what it was that had pitched him over, had already conceived a plan +for terminating it. He ran for his axe, which fortunately lay out of +the range of the crocodile's tail, and having laid his hands upon it, he +approached in a stealthy manner with the intention of striking a blow. +He directed himself towards the root of the reptile's tail, for he knew +that that was the only place where a blow of the axe would cripple it; +but, just as he was getting within reach, the crocodile suddenly shifted +himself round, making his tail fly like a piece of sprung whalebone. +Guapo leaped hastily back,--as hastily, I will make bold to say, as any +Indian of his years could have done, but not quick enough to clear +himself quite. He wanted about eight inches; but in this case inches +were as good as miles for the crocodile's purpose, for about eight +inches of the tip of his tail came "smack" across Guapo's naked shins, +and sent the old Indian head over heels. + +It was just an accident that Guapo's shanks were not broken like sticks +of sealing-wax; and had the blow been directed with the crocodile's full +force, such would have been the unhappy result. As it was they were +only "scratched," and Guapo, leaping to his feet, ran to recover his +axe, for that weapon had flown several yards out of his hands at the +blow. + +By the time he laid hold of it, however, the _saurian_ was no longer on +dry ground. His newly-opened eyes--opened, perhaps, for the first time +for months--caught sight of the water close by, and crawling forward a +step or two, he launched his ugly, mud-bedaubed carcass into the welcome +element. The next moment he had dived, and was out of sight. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +THE CROCODILE AND CAPIVARAS. + +Guapo was in no humour for enjoying the conversation of that evening. +The crocodile had "choused" him out of his favourite supper. The monkey +was literally knocked to "smithereens," and the pieces that still +adhered together were daubed all over with mud. It wasn't fit meat-- +even for an Indian--and Guapo had to content himself with a dried +plantain and a stew of jerked horse-flesh. + +Of course Don Pablo and the rest examined with curiosity the great hole +in the mud that had contained the crocodile. There it had lain during +months of the dry season in a state of torpidity, and would, no doubt, +have remained still longer, but that it was aroused by the big fire that +Guapo had built over it. The irritation produced by this had been the +cause of its sudden resurrection, for the crocodiles that thus bury +themselves usually come out after the beginning of the heavy rains. + +It was a true long-snouted crocodile, as Don Pablo had observed in the +short opportunity he had had; and not an alligator--for it must be here +remarked, that the true crocodile is found in many parts of Spanish +America, and also in many of the West India Islands. For a long time it +was believed that only alligators existed in America, and that the +crocodiles were confined to the Eastern Continent. It is now known that +at least one species of crocodile is an American animal, and several +distinct species of alligators are inhabitants of the New World. There +is the alligator of the Mississippi--which is the "caiman" or "cayman" +of the Spanish Americans; there is the spectacled alligator (_Alligator +sclerops_), a southern species, so called from a pair of rings around +its eyes having a resemblance to spectacles; and there is a still +smaller species called the "bava," which is found in Lake Valencia, and +in many South American rivers. The last kind is much hunted by the +Indians, who, although they eat parts of all these creatures, are fonder +of the flesh of the bava than of any of the others. + +They had not intended to keep watch this night, as the naked promontory +seemed to be a safe place to sleep upon; but now, after their adventure +with the crocodile, they changed their minds, and they resolved to mount +guard as before. The monster might easily crawl out of the water again, +and, judging from the size of his mouth, it is not improbable to suppose +that he might have swallowed one of the smaller individuals of the party +at a single effort. Lest he might return to use either his teeth or his +tail, the watch was set as on other nights--Leon taking the first turn, +Guapo the second, and Don Pablo sitting it out till daybreak. The night +passed through, however, without any unusual disturbance; and although +an occasional plunge was heard in the water close by, no more was seen +of the crocodile until morning. + +I have said _until_ morning--for he was seen then. Yes! indeed. That +beauty was not going to let them off without giving them another peep at +him--not he. + +They were awake and up before day; and as the fire had been kept burning +all night, they had now nothing more to do than rake up the embers, and +hang on the coffee-kettle. It was not yet bright day when breakfast was +already cooked, and they sat down to eat it. + +While engaged in this operation, they noticed a string of flamingoes on +the muddy promontory, at the end where it joined the land. They were +ranged in line, like soldiers, some of them balanced on one long thin +leg, as these birds do. They appeared in the grey light to be unusually +tall; but when it became a little clearer, our travellers could perceive +that they were not upon the ground, but standing upon an old log. This, +of course, made them look taller. They were just in the _very_ track by +which Guapo and Leon had passed to get the wood the evening before. +Now, neither Guapo nor Leon remembered any log. They were certain there +was none there, else they would have cut it up for fire-wood, that was a +sure thing; and it was very mysterious who could have rolled a log there +during the night! + +While discussing this point it became clearer; and, to the astonishment +of all, what they had taken to be an old log turned out to be nothing +else than their old friend the crocodile! I have said to the +astonishment of all--that is not strictly correct. Guapo saw nothing to +astonish him in that sight. He had witnessed a similar one many a time, +and so does every one who travels either on the Amazon or the Orinoco. + +These flamingoes were perfectly safe, so far as the crocodile was +concerned, and they knew it. As long as they kept out of the reach of +his jaws and tail, he could not hurt them. Although he could bend +himself to either side, so as to "kiss" the tip of his own tail, he +could not reach any part of his back, exert himself as he might. This +the flamingoes and other birds well know, and these creatures being fond +of a place to perch upon, often avail themselves of the long serrated +back of the crocodile, or the caiman. + +As the day became brighter the flamingoes sat still--not appearing to be +alarmed by the movements at the camp, which was about an hundred yards +distant from their perch. It was likely they had never been frightened +by the hunter, for these birds in districts where they are hunted are +exceedingly shy. All at once, however, as if by a given signal, the +whole flock rose together, and flew off with loud screams. The +crocodile, too, was seen to move, but it was not this which had scared +them off. It was after they had gone that he had stirred himself; and, +even had it not been so, they would not have regarded his movements, as +these birds are often seen perched upon a _crawling_ crocodile! + +No. Something else had affrighted them, and that was a noise in the +bushes beyond, which was now distinctly heard at the camp. There was a +rustling of leaves and a crackling of branches, as if more than one +creature made the noise. So it appeared, for the next moment nearly a +score of animals dashed out of the bushes, and ran on towards the water. + +These creatures were odd enough to fix the attention of the party at the +camp. They were about the size of small hogs--very much of the same +build--and covered with a thin sandy bristly hair, just like some hogs +are. They were not "pigheaded," however. Their heads were exactly like +those of the grey rabbit, and instead of hoofs they were toed and +clawed. This gave them altogether a lighter appearance than hogs, and +yet they did not run as fast, although when first noticed they appeared +to be doing their best. + +Our travellers knew them at once, for they _were_ animals that are +common upon the rivers in all the warm parts of South America. They +were "_capivaras_," or "chiguires," as they are also called. These +creatures are peculiar to the American continent. They are, in fact, +"guinea-pigs" on a large scale, and bear the greatest resemblance to +those well-known animals, except in size and colour; for the capivaras +are of a uniform sandy brown. They are of the same genus as the +guinea-pigs, though the systematisers have put them into a separate one, +and have also made a third genus to suit another animal of very similar +shape and habits. This is the "moco," which is between the guinea-pig +and capivara in size, and of a greyish olive colour. All three are +natives of South America, and in their wild state are found only there, +though from the absurd name "guinea-pig," you may be led to think that +this little creature came originally from Africa. + +The three are all "rodent" animals, and the capivara is the largest +"rodent" that is known. It, moreover, is amphibious, quite as much so +as the tapir, and it is found only near the banks of rivers. It is more +at home in the water than on dry land, or perhaps it has more numerous +enemies on land; though, poor, persecuted creature! it is not without +some in either element, as will be seen by what follows. + +The drove of capivaras counted nearly a score, and they were making for +the water as fast as their legs could carry them. The crocodile lay +directly across their path, but their black eyes, large and prominent, +seemed to be occupied with something behind; and they had run up almost +against the body of the reptile before they saw it. Uttering a sort of +squeak they made a half-pause. Some sprang up and leaped over--others +attempted to go round. All succeeded except one; but the crocodile, on +seeing their approach--no doubt it was for this he had been in wait all +the morning--had thrown himself into the form of a half-moon; and as +they passed he let fly at them. His powerful tail came "flap" against +the nearest, and it was pitched several yards, where, after a kick or +two, it lay upon its side as dead as a herring, a door-nail, or even +Julius Caesar--take your choice. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +FIGHT OF THE JAGUAR AND CROCODILE. + +The chiguires that escaped past the crocodile, the next instant plunged +into the river, and disappeared under the water. They would come to the +surface for breath in ten or twelve minutes, but at such a distance off +that they needed no longer fear pursuit from the same enemy. + +Our travellers took no notice of them from the moment they were fairly +out of the bushes. They saw that the crocodile had knocked one of them +over; but the eyes of Guapo and Don Pablo were directed upon a different +place--the point at which the chiguires had sallied out of the +underwood. These knew that the animals had not issued forth in their +natural way, as if they were going to the stream to drink, or in search +of food. No--quite different. Their bristles were erect--they were +excited--they were terrified--beyond a doubt they were pursued! + +Who or what was their pursuer? It might be an ocelot, or the +yaguarundi, or some one of the smaller cats; for many of these prey on +the defenceless capivara. It _might_ be one of these, thought Don Pablo +and Guapo; but what if it was not? What else could it be? What else? +_The jaguar_! + +It _was_ the jaguar! As they stood gazing with looks full of +apprehension, the leaves of the underwood were seen to move, and then a +beautiful but terrible object, the spotted head of a jaguar, was thrust +forth. It remained a moment as if reconnoitring, and then the whole +body, bright and glistening, glided clear of the leaves, and stood +boldly out in front of the underwood. Here it halted another moment-- +only a moment. The crocodile had turned itself, and was about closing +its jaws upon the body of the chiguire, when the jaguar seeing this, +uttered a loud scream, and making one bound forward, seized the dead +animal almost at the same instant. + +They were now face to face,--the great lizard and the great cat; and +their common prey was between them. Each had a firm hold with his +powerful jaws, and each appeared determined to keep what he had got. +The yellow eyes of the jaguar seemed to flash fire, and the black sunken +orbs of the saurian glared with a lurid and deadly light. It was a +terrible picture to look upon. + +For some seconds both remained apparently gazing into each other's eyes, +and firmly holding the prey between them. The tail of the jaguar +vibrated in sudden angry jerks, while that of the crocodile lay bent +into a semicircle, as if ready to be sprung at a moment's notice. + +This inaction did not last long. The fury of the jaguar was evidently +on the increase. He was indignant that he, the king of the American +forest, should thus meet with opposition to his will; and, indeed, the +crocodile was about the only creature in all the wide Montana that dare +oppose him in open fight. But he was determined to conquer even this +enemy, and for that purpose he prepared himself. + +Still holding on to the capivara, and watching his opportunity, he +sprang suddenly forward, throwing one of his great paws far in advance. +His object was to _claw the eye_ of his adversary; for he well knew that +the latter was vulnerable neither upon its long snout, nor its gaunt +jaws, nor even upon the tough scaly skin of its throat. Its eyes alone +could be injured, and these were the objects of the jaguar's attack. + +The thrust was a failure. The crocodile had anticipated such a +manoeuvre, and suddenly raising himself on his fore-legs, threw up one +of his great scaly hands and warded off the blow. The jaguar fearing to +be clutched between the strong fore-arms of the saurian, drew back to +his former position. + +This manoeuvre, and its counter-manoeuvre, were repeated several times, +and although each time the struggle lasted a little longer than before, +and there was a good deal of lashing of tails and tearing of teeth, and +scratching of claws, still neither of the combatants seemed to gain any +great advantage. Both were now at the height of their fury, and a third +enemy approaching the spot would not have been heeded by either. + +From the first the head of the crocodile had been turned to the water, +from which he was not distant over ten feet. He had, in fact, been +carrying his prey towards it when he was interrupted by the attack of +the jaguar; and now at every fresh opportunity he was pushing on, bit by +bit, in that direction. He knew that in his own proper element he would +be more than a match for his spotted assailant, and no doubt he might +have escaped from the contest by surrendering his prey. Had he been a +smaller crocodile he would have been only too glad to have done so; but +trusting to his size and strength, and perhaps not a little to the +justice of his cause, he was determined not to go without taking the +capivara along with him. + +The jaguar, on the other hand, was just as determined he should not. He +too, had some rights. The capivara would not have been killed so +easily, had he not frightened it from behind; besides, the crocodile was +out of his element. He was poaching on the domain of the forest +monarch. + +Bit by bit, the crocodile was gaining ground--at each fresh pause in the +struggle he was forging forward, pushing the chiguire before him, and of +course causing his antagonist to make ground backwards. + +The jaguar at length felt his hind-feet in the water; and this seemed to +act upon him like a shock of electricity. All at once he let go his +hold of the capivara, ran a few feet forward, and then flattening his +body along the ground, prepared himself for a mighty spring. Before a +second had passed, he launched his body high into the air, and descended +upon the back of the crocodile just over his fore-shoulders! He did not +settle there, but ran nimbly down the back of the saurian towards its +hinder part, and his claws could be heard rattling against its scaly +skin. In a moment more he was seen close-squatted along the crocodile's +body, and with his teeth tearing fiercely at the root of its tail. He +knew that after the eyes this was the most vulnerable part of his +antagonist, and if he had been allowed but a few minutes' time, he would +soon have disabled the crocodile; for to have seriously wounded the root +of his tail, would have been to have destroyed his essential weapon of +offence. + +The jaguar would have succeeded had the encounter occurred only a dozen +yards farther from the water. But the crocodile was close to the +river's edge, and perceiving the advantage against him, and that there +was no hope of dismounting his adversary, he dropped the capivara, and +crawling forward, plunged into the water. When fairly launched, he shot +out from the shore like an arrow, carrying the jaguar along, and the +next moment he had dived to the depth of the stream. The water was +lashed into foam by the blows of his feet and tail; but in the midst of +the froth, the yellow body of the jaguar was seen rising to the surface, +and after turning once or twice, as if searching for his hated enemy, +the creature headed for the bank and climbed out. He stood for a moment +looking back into the stream. He appeared less cowed than angry and +disappointed. He seemed to vow a future revenge; and then seizing the +half-torn carcass of the capivara, he threw it lightly over his shoulder +and trotted off into the thicket. + +Our travellers had not watched this scene either closely or +continuously. They had been too busy all the time. From its +commencement they had been doing all in their power to get away from the +spot; for they dreaded lest the jaguar might either first overpower the +crocodile and then attack them, or being beaten off by the latter, might +take it into his head to revenge himself by killing whatever he could. +With these apprehensions, therefore, they had hastily carried everything +aboard, and drawing in their cable, pushed the balza from the shore. +When the fight came to an end, they had got fairly into the current, and +just as the jaguar disappeared, the raft was gliding swiftly down the +broad and rippling stream. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA. + +For several days they voyaged down-stream, without any occurrence of +particular interest. Once or twice they saw Indians upon the shore; but +these, instead of putting off in their canoes, seemed frightened at so +large a craft, and remained by their "maloccas," or great +village-houses, in each of which several families live together. Not +caring to have any dealings with them, our travellers were only too glad +to get past without molestation; and, therefore, when they passed any +place where they thought they observed the signs of Indians on the bank, +they kept on for hours after, without stopping. + +A curious incident occurred one evening as they were bringing the balza +to her moorings, which compelled them to drop a little farther +down-stream, and, in fact, almost obliged them to float all night, which +would have been a dangerous matter, as the current at the place happened +to be sharp and rapid. + +They had been on the look-out for some time for a good camping-place, as +it was their usual hour to stop. No opening, however, appeared for +several miles. The banks on both sides were thickly-wooded to the +river's edge, and the branches of the trees even drooped into the water. +At length they came in sight of a natural raft that had been formed by +drift-wood in a bend of the stream; and as the logs lay thickly +together, and even piled upon each other, it appeared an excellent place +to encamp on. It was, at all events, better than to attempt to +penetrate the thick jungles which met them everywhere else; and so the +balza was directed towards the raft, and soon floated alongside it. + +They had already got ashore on the raft, which was dry and firm, and +would have served their purpose well enough; when, all at once, Guapo +was heard uttering one of those exclamations, which showed that all was +not right. The rest looked towards him for an explanation. He was +standing by the edge of the floating timber, just where the balza +touched it, with his arms stretched out in an attitude that betokened +trouble. They all ran up. They saw what was the matter at a glance. +Thousands of red ants were climbing from the raft to the balza! +Thousands,--nay, it would be nearer the truth to say millions! + +At one glance Don Pablo saw that it would be a terrible calamity, should +these creatures gain a lodgment on the balza. Not only were they the +dreaded stinging ants, but in a short time nothing on board would be +left. In a few hours they would have eaten all his stores,--his bark, +his vanilla, and his roots. Already quite a number had got upon the +canoe, and were crossing it toward the body of the balza. + +Without saying another word, he ordered all to get on board as quickly +as possible, each taking some utensil that had already been carried on +shore. He and Guapo flew to the poles; and, having hastily unfastened +and drawn in the cable, they pushed the balza out into the stream. Then +while Guapo managed the great oar, Don Pablo, assisted by Leon and by +Dona Isidora, went to work with scoops and pails, dashing water upon the +ants; until every one of them had disappeared, drowned in the canoe or +washed off into the river. Fortunate for them, they had observed this +strange enemy in time. Had they not done so--in other words, had they +gone to sleep, leaving the balza where it was during the night--they +would have awakened in the morning to find their stores completely +destroyed, their labour of a year brought to nothing in the space of a +single night. This is no uncommon occurrence to the merchant or the +colonist of tropical America. + +They had made a narrow escape, but a fortunate one. They were not +without their troubles, however. No open ground could be found for +miles below; and, as it was growing dark, they approached the +thickly-wooded bank; and, after a good deal of scratching among the +branches, at length succeeded in making the cable fast to a tree. The +balza then swung round, and floated at the end of the cable, half of it +being buried under the long hanging branches. + +They spent their night on board, for it was no use attempting to get on +shore through the underwood; and even if they had, they could not have +encamped very comfortably in a thicket. On the other hand, the balza +did not afford the best accommodation for sleeping. The little "toldo," +or cabin, was not large enough to swing a hammock in. It would only +contain a few persons seated close together; and it had been built more +for the purpose of keeping the sun off during the hot hours of the day +than for sleeping in. The rest of the balza was occupied with the +freight; and this was so arranged with sloping sides, thatched with the +bussu-leaves, that there was no level place where one could repose upon +it. The night, therefore, was passed without very much sleep having +been obtained by any one of the party. Of course, the moment the first +streaks of day began to appear along the Eastern sky, they were all +awake and ready to leave their disagreeable anchorage. + +As they were making preparations to untie the cable, they noticed that +just below where the balza lay, a horizontal limb stretched far out over +the river. It was the lowermost limb of a large zamang-tree, that stood +on the bank close to the edge of the water. It was not near the +surface, but a good many feet above. Still it was not certain that it +was high enough for the roof of the toldo to clear it. That was an +important question; for although the current was not very rapid just +there, it was sufficiently so to carry the balza under this branch +before they could push it out into the stream. Once the cable was let +go, they must inevitably pass under the limb of the zamang; and if that +caught the toldo, it would sweep off the frail roof like so much +spider's-web. This would be a serious damage; and one to be avoided, if +possible. + +Don Pablo and Guapo went to the end of the balza nearest the branch, and +stood for some time surveying it. It was about eight or ten yards +distant; but in the grey dawn they could not judge correctly of its +height, and they waited till it grew a little clearer. At length they +came to the conclusion that the branch was high enough. The long +pendulous leaves--characteristic of this great _mimosa_--and the +drooping branchlets hung down much below the main shaft; but these, even +if they touched the roof, would do no injury. It was, therefore, +determined to let go the cable. + +It was now clear day, for they had been delayed a good while; but at +length all was ready, and Guapo untied the cable, and drew the end on +board. The balza began to move; slowly at first, for the current under +the bushes was very slight. + +All at once the attention of the voyagers was called to the strange +conduct of the pet monkey. That little creature was running to and fro, +first upon the roof of the toldo, then down again, all the while +uttering the most piercing shrieks as if something was biting off its +tail! It was observed to look forward and upward toward the branch of +the zamang, as if the object it dreaded was in that quarter. The eyes +of all were suddenly bent in the same direction. What was their horror +on beholding, stretched along the branch, the hideous body of an +enormous serpent! Only part of it could be seen; the hinder half and +the tail were hidden among the bromelias and vines that in huge masses +clustered around the trunk of the zamang, and the head was among the +leaflets of the mimosa; but what they saw was enough to convince them +that it was a snake of the largest size--the great "_water-boa_"--the +_anaconda_! + +That part of the body in sight was full as thick as a man's thigh, and +covered with black spots or blotches upon a ground of dingy yellow. It +was seen to glisten as the animal moved, for the latter was in motion, +crawling along the branch _outward_! The next moment its head appeared +under the pendulous leaves; and its long forking tongue, protruding +several inches from its mouth, seemed to feel the air in front of it. +This tongue kept playing backwards and forwards, and its viscid covering +glittered under the sunbeam, adding to the hideous appearance of the +monster. + +To escape from passing within its reach would be impossible. The balza +was gliding directly under it! It could launch itself aboard at will. +It could seize upon any one of the party without coming from the branch. +It could coil its body around them, and crush them with the +constricting power of its muscles. It could do all this; for it had +crushed before now the tapir, the roebuck, perhaps even the jaguar +himself. + +All on board the boat knew its dangerous power too well; and, of course, +terror was visible in every countenance. + +Don Pablo seized the axe, and Guapo laid hold of his _machete_. Dona +Isidora, Leon, and the little Leona, were standing--fortunately they +were--by the door of the toldo; and, in obedience to the cries and +hurried gestures of Don Pablo and the Indian, they rushed in and flung +themselves down. They had scarcely disappeared inside, when the forward +part of the balza upon which stood Don Pablo and Guapo, came close to +the branch, and the head of the serpent was on a level with their own. +Both aimed their blows almost at the same instant; but their footing was +unsteady, the boa drew back at the moment, and both missed their aim. +The next moment the current had carried them out of reach, and they had +no opportunity of striking a second blow. + +The moment they had passed the hideous head again dropped down, and hung +directly over, as if waiting. It was a moment of intense anxiety to Don +Pablo. His wife and children! Would it select one as its victim, and +leave the others? or-- + +He had but little time for reflection. Already the head of the snake +was within three feet of the toldo door. Its eyes were glaring--it was +about to dart down. + +"Oh, God, have mercy!" exclaimed Don Pablo, falling upon his knees. +"Oh, God!" + +At that moment a loud scream was heard. It came from the toldo; and, at +the same instant, the saimiri was seen leaping out from the door. Along +with the rest, it had taken shelter within; but just as the head of the +snake came in sight, a fresh panic seemed to seize upon it; and, as if +under the influence of fascination, it leaped screaming in the direction +of the terrible object. It was met halfway. The wide jaws closed upon +it, its shrieks were stifled, and the next moment its silken body, along +with the head of the anaconda, disappeared among the leaves of the +mimosa. Another moment passed, and the balza swept clear of the branch, +and floated triumphantly into the open water. + +Don Pablo sprang to his feet, ran into the toldo, and, after embracing +his wife and children, knelt down and offered thanks to God for their +almost miraculous deliverance. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +A BATCH OF CURIOUS TREES. + +Of course the escape from danger so imminent, after the first moments +were over, produced a sort of reaction in the feelings of all, and they +were now rather joyous than otherwise. But with all there was a mixture +of regret when they thought of the fate of little "titi." It had been +their only pet, and had grown to be such a favourite that its loss was +now mourned by every one, and its absence caused them to feel as though +one of the company had been left behind. Several times during that day +poor "titi" was the subject of conversation; indeed, they could hardly +talk about anything else. Little Leona was quite inconsolable; for the +pretty creature had loved Leona, and used to perch on her shoulder by +the hour, and draw her silken ringlets through its tiny hand, and place +its dainty little nose against the rich velvet of her cheek, and play +off all sorts of antics with her ears. Many an hour did "titi" and +Leona spend together. No wonder that the creature was missed. + +During the whole of that day they travelled through a country covered +with dense forest. The river was a full half-mile wide, but sometimes +there were islands, and then the current became narrowed on each side, +so that in passing, the balza almost touched the trees on one side or +the other. They saw many kinds of trees growing together, and rarely a +large tract covered with any one species of timber, for this, as already +remarked, is a peculiarity of the Amazon forests. Many new and curious +trees were noticed, of which Don Pablo gave short botanical descriptions +to the others, partly to instruct them, and partly to while away the +hours. Guapo, at the rudder, listened to these learned lectures, and +sometimes added some information of his own about the properties of the +trees, and the uses to which they were put by the Indians. This is what +is termed the popular part of the science of botany, and, perhaps, it is +more important than the mere classification of genera and species, which +is usually all the information that you get from the learned and +systematic botanists. + +Among the trees passed to-day was one called the "volador" +(_gyrocarpus_). This is a large forest tree, with lobed leaves, of a +heart-shape. But it is the seeds which are curious, and which give to +the tree the odd name of "volador," or "flier." These seeds have each a +pair of membranaceous and striated wings, which, when the seeds fall, +are turned to meet the air at an angle of 45 degrees; and thus a +rotatory motion is produced, and the falling seeds turn round and round +like little fly-wheels. It is altogether a curious sight when a large +volador is shaken in calm weather, to see the hundreds of seeds whirling +and wheeling towards the ground, which they take a considerable time in +reaching. The volador is not confined to South America, I have seen it +in Mexico, and other parts of North America. + +Another singular tree noticed was a tree of the barberry family +(_berberis_), known among the Spanish-Americans as _barba de tigre_, or +"tiger's beard." This name it derives from the fact of its trunk--which +is very large and high--being thickly set all over with sharp, branching +thorns, that are fancied to resemble the whiskers of the jaguar, or +South American "tiger." + +A third remarkable tree (or bush) observed was the _Bixa orellana_, +which yields the well-known _arnatto_ dye. This bush is ten or twelve +feet in height, and its seeds grow in a burr-like pericarp. These seeds +are covered with a reddish pulp, which produces the dye. The mode of +making it is simple. The Indian women throw the seeds into a vessel of +hot water, and stir them violently for about an hour, until they have +taken off the pulp. The water is then poured off, and the deposit, +separated from the seeds, is mixed with oil of turtle-eggs, or crocodile +fat, and kneaded into cakes of three or four ounces weight. It is then +"anoto," sometimes written "arnatto," sometimes "arnotto," sometimes +"onoto," and sometimes "anato." The first is the proper spelling. In +Brazil it is called "urucu," whence the French name "rocou;" and the +Peruvians have still another designation for it, "achote." Of course +each tribe of Indians calls it by a separate name. The botanic name, +_Bixa_, is the ancient name by which it was known to the Indians of +Hayti, for it is found in most parts of tropical America growing wild, +although it is also cultivated. It is an article in great demand among +all the Indians of South America, who use it for painting their bodies, +and dyeing the cotton cloth of which they make their garments. + +But these people are very skilful in drawing pigments from plants and +trees of many kinds; in fact, their practical chemistry, so far as it +relates to dyes and poisons, is quite surprising, and from time to time +Guapo pointed out trees that were used by them for such purposes. + +One was a climbing plant, whose tendrils reached to the tops of the +highest trees. It had beautiful violet-coloured flowers, an inch long, +and Don Pablo saw that it was a species of _bignonia_. Guapo called it +"chica." When in fruit it carries a pod two feet in length, full of +winged seeds. But Guapo said it was not from the seeds that the dye was +obtained, but from the leaves, which turn red when macerated in water. +The colouring matter comes out of the leaves in the form of a light +powder, and is then shaped into cakes, which sell among the Indians for +the value of a dollar each. This colour has a tinge of lake in it, and +is prized even more highly than the anoto. Indeed, red dyes among all +savage nations seem to hold a higher value than those of any other +colour. + +Another dye-tree was the "huitoc." This one is a slender tree, about +twenty feet high, with broad leaves shooting out from the stem, and nuts +growing at their bases, after the manner of the bread-fruit. These nuts +resemble black walnuts, and are of a russet colour outside; but the pulp +inside, which produces the huitoc, is of a dark blue, or purple tint. + +The "wild indigo tree," was also seen growing in the woods, with a leaf +narrow at the base, and broad at the extremity. With these and many +other dyes the Indians of the Montana paint their bodies in fantastic +modes. So much are they addicted to these customs, that, among the +Indians who labour at the missions, some have been known to work nearly +a month to procure paint enough to give their body a single coat, and +the missionaries have made a merchandise of this gigantic folly. But +the paint is not always to be looked upon in the light of a mere folly, +or vanity. Sometimes it is used to keep off the "zancudos," or +mosquitoes, so numerous and annoying in these regions. + +Another singular tree was observed, which Guapo called the "marima," or +"shirt-tree." The use of this he explained. The tree stands fifty or +sixty feet high, with a diameter of from two to three. When they find +them of this size, the Indians cut them down, and then separate the +trunk into pieces of about three feet long. From these pieces they +strip the bark, but without making any longitudinal incision, so that +the piece of bark when taken off is a hollow cylinder. It is thin and +fibrous, of a red colour, and looks like a piece of coarsely-woven +sack-cloth. With this the shirt is made, simply by cutting two holes in +the sides to admit the arms, and the body being passed into it, it is +worn in time of rain. Hence the saying of the old missionaries, that in +the "forests of America garments were found ready-made on the trees." + +Many other trees were noticed valuable for their fruits, or leaves, or +bark, or roots, or their wood. There was the well-known "seringa," or +India-rubber tree; the great courbaril, the "dragon's-blood" tree, not +that celebrated tree of the East (_Draccena_), but one of a different +genus (_Crotori_), from whose white bark flows a red blood-like juice. + +They saw, also, a species of cinnamon-tree (_Laurus cinnamonoides_), +though not the cinnamon of commerce; the large tree that bears the +Brazilian nutmeg (the Puxiri); and that one, also, a large forest tree, +that bears the nuts known as "Tonka beans," and which are used in the +flavouring of snuff. + +But of all the trees which our travellers saw on that day, none made +such an impression upon them as the "juvia," or Brazil-nut tree +(_Bertholletia excelsa_). This tree is not one with a thick trunk; in +fact, the largest ones are not three feet in diameter, but it rises to a +height of 120 feet. Its trunk is branchless for more than half that +height, and the branches then spread out and droop, like the fronds of +the palm. They are naked near their bases, but loaded towards the top +with tufts of silvery green leaves, each two feet in length. The tree +does not blossom until its fifteenth year, and then it bears +violet-coloured flowers; although there is another species, the +"sapucaya," which has yellow ones. But it is neither the trunk, nor the +branches, nor the leaves, nor yet the flowers of this tree, that render +it such an object of curiosity. It is the great woody and spherical +pericarps that contain the nuts or fruits that are wonderful. These are +often as large as the head of a child, and as hard as the shell of the +cocoa-nut! Inside is found a large number--twenty or more--of those +triangular-shaped nuts which you may buy at any Italian warehouse under +the name of "Brazil-nuts." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +THE FOREST FESTIVAL. + +In consequence of their having rested but poorly on the preceding night, +it was determined that they should land at an early hour; and this they +did, choosing an open place on the shore. It was a very pretty spot, +and they could see that the woods in the background were comparatively +open, as though there were some meadows or prairies between. These +openings, however, had been caused by fire. There had been a growth of +cane. It had been burned off and as yet was not grown up again, though +the young reeds were making their appearance like a field of green +wheat. Some places, and especially near the river, the ground was still +bare. This change in the landscape was quite agreeable to our +travellers; so much so, that they resolved to exercise their limbs by +taking a short stroll; and, having finished their late dinner they set +out. They all went together, leaving the balza and camp to take care of +themselves. + +After walking a few hundred yards their ears were assailed by a confused +noise, as if all the animals in the forest had met and were holding a +_conversazione_. Some low bushes prevented them from seeing what it +meant, but on pushing their way through, they saw whence and from what +sort of creatures the noise proceeded. + +Standing out in the open ground was a large and tall juvia-tree. Its +spreading branches were loaded with great globes as big as human heads-- +each one, of course, full of delicious nuts. These were now ripe, and +some of them had already fallen to the ground. + +Upon the ground an odd scene presented itself to the eyes of our +travellers. Between birds and animals assembled there, there were not +less than a dozen kinds, all as busy as they could be. + +First, then, there were animals of the rodent kind. These were pacas +(_Coelogenus paca_), agoutis (_Chloromys_), and capivaras. The pacas +were creatures a little larger than hares, and not unlike them, except +that their ears were shorter. They were whitish on the under parts, but +above were of a dark brown colour, with rows of white spots along each +side. They had whiskers like the cat, consisting of long white +bristles; and their tails, like those of hares, were scarcely visible. +The agoutis bore a considerable resemblance to the pacas. Like these, +they are also rodent animals, but less in size; and instead of being +spotted, they are of a nearly uniform dark colour mixed with reddish +brown. Both pacas and agoutis are found in most parts of tropical +America. There are several species of each, and with the chinchillas +and viscachas already described, they occupy the place in those regions +that the hares and rabbits do in northern climates. Indeed, European +settlers usually know them by the names of hare or rabbit, and hunt them +in the same way. The flesh of most species is very good eating, and +they are therefore much sought after both by the natives and colonists. +Along with these, near the juvia-tree, were several capivaras, already +noticed. But still more singular creatures on the ground were the +monkeys. Of these there were different kinds; but that which first drew +the attention of our party was the great Capuchin monkey (_Brachyurus +chiropotes_). This creature is not less than three feet in height and +of a reddish maroon colour. Its body is entirely different from the +"ateles" monkeys, being stouter and covered with a fuller coat of hair; +and its tail is large and bushy, without any prehensile power. It is, +in fact, less of a tree monkey than the _ateles_, although it also lives +among the branches. The most striking peculiarities of the Capuchin are +its head and face. In these it bears a stronger resemblance to the +human being than any other monkey in America. The top of its head is +covered with a crop of coarse hair, that lies somewhat after the fashion +of human hair; but, what most contributes to the human expression is a +large full beard and whiskers reaching down to the breast, and arranged +exactly after the fashion of the huge beards worn by Orientals and some +Frenchmen. There were only two of these Capuchins on the ground--a male +and female, for this species does not associate in bands. The female +one was easily distinguished by her smaller size, and her beard was +considerably less than that of the male. The beards seemed to be +objects of special attention with both--especially the male, as every +now and then he was observed to stroke it down with his hand, just as a +dandy may be seen doing with his moustache or his well-brushed whiskers. + +Another peculiar habit of the Capuchins was noticed. There was a little +pool of water close by. Every now and then they ran to this pool and +took a drink from it. But in drinking they did not apply their lips to +the pool or lap like a dog. No; they lifted the water in the hollow of +their hands--hence their specific name of _chiropotes_, or +"hand-drinking monkeys." They raised the water to their lips with great +care, taking pains not to let a drop of it fall on their precious +beards. From this habit of going so often to quench their thirst, the +Capuchin monkeys have in some parts got the name of "hard-drinking +monkeys." + +Apart from these was a troop of monkeys of a very different species. +They were nearly of the same size, but more of the shape of the +"ateles;" and their long tails, naked underneath and curling downward +near the points, showed that, like them too, they possessed prehensile +power in that member. Such was the fact, for they were "howling +monkeys;" and some species of these can use the tail almost as adroitly +as the "ateles" themselves. Those that our travellers saw were the +"guaribas," nearly black in colour, but with their hands covered with +yellow hair, whence their name among the naturalists of "yellow-handed +howler" (_Stentor flavimanus_). They were seated in a ring when first +observed, and one--apparently the chief of the band--was haranguing the +rest; but so rapid were his articulations, and so changeable the tones +of his voice, that any one would have thought the whole party were +chattering together. This, in effect, did occur at intervals, and then +you might have heard them to the distance of more than a mile. These +creatures are enabled to produce this vast volume of voice in +consequence of a hollow bony structure at the root of the tongue, which +acts as a drum, and which gives them the appearance of a swelling, or +goitre, in the throat. This is common to all the howling monkeys as +well as the guaribas. + +Besides the howlers there were other species--there were tamarins, and +ouistitis, and the black coaitas of the genus "ateles," all assembled +around the juvia-tree. There were parrots, and macaws, and other +nut-eating birds. High above in the air soared the great eagle watching +his opportunity to swoop down on the pacas or agoutis, his natural prey. +It was altogether a singular assemblage of wild animals--a zoological +garden of the wilderness. + +Our party, concealed by bushes, looked on for some time. They noticed +that not one of all the living things was _under_ the tree. On the +contrary, they formed--monkeys, cavies, parrots, and all--a sort of ring +around it, but at such a distance that none of the brandies were above +them! Why was this? Guapo knew the reason well, and before leaving +their place of observation the others had an explanation of it. + +While they stood gazing one of the great globes was seen to fall from +the tree above. The loud report as it struck the earth could have been +heard a long way off. It caused the whole assemblage of living +creatures to start. The macaws flapped their wings, the monkeys ran +outward and then stopped, and a simultaneous cry from the voices of both +birds and beasts echoed on all sides; and then there was a general +chattering and screaming, as though the fall of the great pericarp had +given pleasure to all parties. + +It was very evident from this circumstance why both beasts and birds +kept so far out from the tree. One of these fruits coming down like a +nine-pound shot would have crushed any of them to atoms. Indeed, so +heavy are they, that one of them falling from a height of fifty or sixty +feet will dash out the brains of a man; and the Indians who gather them +go under the trees with great wooden helmets that cover both the head +and shoulders! It would be no boy's play to "go a nutting" in a wood of +juvia-trees. + +But how did the monkeys and birds get at the nuts? Neither of these +could break open the outer shell. This is full half an inch thick, and +so hard that it can scarcely be cut with a saw. How could either +monkeys or birds open it?--that was the question put to Guapo. + +"Watch them," said Guapo. + +All kept their eyes bent attentively on what was going on; and to their +astonishment they observed that neither the monkeys nor the birds had +anything to do with the opening of the shells. That was entirely the +work of the rodent animals, the pacas, cavies, and agoutis. These with +their fine cutting teeth laid open the thick pericarps, and whenever one +was seen to have succeeded, and the triangular nuts were scattered upon +the ground, then there was a general rush, and macaws, parrots, and +monkeys scrambled for a share. The monkeys, however, did their part of +the work. Whenever a fruit fell from the tree, one or two of them, +deputed by the others, were seen to run in and roll it out, all the +while exhibiting symptoms of great terror. They would then lift it in +their hands, several of them together, and dash it repeatedly upon a +stone. Sometimes, when the shell was not a strong one, they succeeded +in breaking it in this way; but oftener they were not able, and then it +was left to the rodent animals, who were watched at their operations, +and usually robbed of the fruits of their labour. Such were the +singular incidents witnessed at this festival of juvia-nuts. + +But the scene was brought to a sudden termination. A cry was heard that +rose far above all the other noises--a cry more terrible than the +screams of the parrots, or the shrieks of the howling monkeys--it was +the cry of the jaguar! It came from a piece of woods close to the +juvia-tree, and the branches were heard to crackle as the dreaded +utterer advanced. + +In a moment the ground was cleared of every creature. Even the winged +birds had flew up from the spot, and perched upon the branches; the +cavies took to the water; the pacas and agouties to their burrows; and +the monkeys to the tops of the adjacent trees; and nothing remained on +the ground but the empty shells of the juvias. + +Our party did not stay to notice the change. They, too, had been warned +by the roar of the tiger, and hastily leaving the spot, returned to +their place of encampment. On reaching it, they kindled a large circle +of fire to keep them in safety during the night. They saw no more of +the jaguar, although at intervals through the midnight hours, they were +awakened by his loud and savage cry, resounding through the openings of +the forest. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +ACRES OF EGGS. + +The next evening our travellers encamped on a sand-bar, or rather a +great bank of sand, that ran for miles along one side of the river. Of +course they had nothing to hang their hammocks to, but that was a matter +of no importance, for the sand was dry and soft, and of itself would +make a comfortable bed, as pleasant to sleep on as a hair-mattress. +They only wanted wood enough to cook with, and to keep up their fire +during the night--so as to frighten off the wild beasts. + +This night they kept watch as usual, Leon taking the first turn. In +fact, they found that they must do so every night--as in each of the +camps where they had slept some danger had threatened; and they thought +it would be imprudent for all to go to sleep at the same time. The +heaviest part of the sentinel's duty fell to Guapo's share; but Guapo +had long accustomed himself to go without sleep, and did not mind it; +moreover Don Pablo took longer spells at the stern-oar during the day, +and allowed Guapo many a "cat-nap." + +Leon seated himself upon a pile of sand that he had gathered up, and did +his best to keep awake, but in about an hour after the rest were asleep +he felt very drowsy--in fact, quite as much so as on the night of the +adventure with the vampire. He used pretty much the same means to keep +himself awake, but not with so good success, for on this occasion he +fell into a nap that lasted nearly half-an-hour, and might have +continued still longer, had he not slid down the sand-hill and tumbled +over on his side. This awoke him; and feeling vexed with himself, he +rubbed his eyes as if he was going to push them deeper into their +sockets. + +When this operation was finished, he looked about to see if any creature +had ventured near. He first looked towards the woods--for of course +that was the direction from which the tigers would come, and these were +the only creatures he feared; but he had scarcely turned himself when he +perceived a pair of eyes glancing at him from the other side of the +fire. Close to them another pair, then another and another, until +having looked on every side, he saw himself surrounded by a complete +circle of glancing eyes! It is true they were small ones, and some of +the heads which he could see by the blaze, were small--they were not +jaguars, but they had an ugly look--they looked like the heads of +serpents! Was it possible that an hundred serpents could have +surrounded the camp? Brought suddenly to his feet, Leon stood for some +moments uncertain how to act. He fully believed they were snakes-- +anacondas, or water-snakes no doubt--that had just crept out of the +river; and he felt that a movement on his part would bring on their +united and simultaneous attack upon the sleeping party. Partly +influenced by this fear, and again exhibiting that coolness and prudence +which we have already noticed as a trait of his character, he remained +for some moments silent and motionless. Having already risen to his +feet, his eyes were now above the level of the blaze, and, as they got +the sleep well scared out of them, he could see things more distinctly. +He now saw that the snake-like heads were attached to large oval-shaped +bodies, and that, besides the half hundred or so that had gathered +around the fires, there were whole droves of the same upon the sandy +beach beyond. The white surface was literally covered as far as he +could see on all sides of him with black moving masses; and where the +rays of the moon fell upon the beach, there was a broad belt that +glistened and sparkled as though she shone upon pieces of glass kept +constantly in motion! + +A singular sight it was; and to Leon, who had never heard of such +before, a most fearful one. For the life of him he could not make out +what it all meant, or by what sort of odd creatures they were +surrounded. He had but an indistinct view of them, but he could see +that their bodies were not larger than those of a small sheep, and from +the way in which they glistened under the moon he was sure they were +water-animals, and had come out of the river! + +He did not stay to speculate any longer upon them. He resolved to wake +Guapo; but in doing so the whole party were aroused, and started to +their feet in some alarm and confusion. The noise and movement had its +effect on the nocturnal visitors; for before Leon could explain himself, +those immediately around the fires and for some distance beyond rushed +to the edge, and were heard plunging by hundreds into the water. + +Guapo's ear caught the sounds, and his eye now ranging along the sandy +shore, took in at a glance the whole thing. + +"Carapas," he said laconically. + +"Carapas?" inquired Leon. + +"Oh!" said Don Pablo, who understood him. "Turtles is it?" + +"Yes, master," replied Guapo. "This is, I suppose, one of their great +hatching-places. They are going to lay their eggs somewhere in the sand +above. They do so every year." + +There was no danger from the turtles, as Guapo assured everybody, but +the fright had chased away sleep, and they all lay awake for some time +listening to Guapo's account of these singular creatures, which we shall +translate into our own phraseology. + +These large turtles, which in other parts of South America are called +"arraus," or simply "tortugas," assemble every year in large armies, +from all parts of the river. Each one of these armies chooses for +itself a place to breed--some sandy island, or great sand-bank. This +they approach very cautiously--lying near it for some days, and +reconnoitring it with only their heads above the water. They then crawl +ashore at night in vast multitudes--just as the party saw them--and each +turtle, with the strong crooked claws of her hind feet, digs a hole for +herself in the sand. These holes are three feet in diameter and two +deep. In this she deposits her eggs--from seventy to one hundred and +twenty of them--each egg being white, hard-shelled, and between the size +of a pigeon's and pullet's. She then covers the whole with sand, +levelling it over the top so that it may look like the rest of the +surface, and so that the precious treasure may not be found by vultures, +jaguars, and other predatory creatures. When this is done the labour of +the turtle is at an end. The great army again betakes itself to the +water, and scatters in _every_ direction. The sun acting upon the hot +sand does the rest; and in less than six weeks the young turtles, about +an inch in diameter, crawl out of the sand, and at once make for the +water. They are afterwards seen in pools and lakes, where the water is +shallow, far from the place where they have been hatched; and it is well +known that the first years of their life are not spent in the bed of the +great river. How they find these pools, or whether the mothers +distinguish their own young and conduct them thither, as the crocodiles +and alligators do, is a mystery. With these last the thing is more +easy, as the crocodile-mothers deposit their eggs in separate places, +and each returns for her young when they are hatched, calls them by her +voice, and guides them to the pool where they are to remain until partly +grown. But among the thousands of little turtles hatched at one place +and time, and that seek the water all together, how would it be possible +for the turtle mother to distinguish her own young? Yet an old female +turtle is frequently seen swimming about with as many as a hundred +little ones after her! Now are these her own, or are they a collection +picked up out of the general progeny? That is an undetermined question. +It would seem impossible that each turtle-mother should know her own +young, yet amidst this apparent confusion there may be some maternal +instinct that guides her to distinguish her own offspring from all the +rest. Who can say? + +It is not often, however, that the turtle is permitted to have offspring +at all. These creatures are annually robbed of their eggs in millions. +They have many enemies, but man is the chief. When a turtle +hatching-place is discovered, the Indians assemble, and as soon as all +the eggs have been deposited, they uncover and collect them. They eat +them--but that is not the principal use to which they are put. It is +for the making of oil, or "tortoise-butter," they are collected. The +eggs are thrown into a large trough or canoe, where they are broken up +with a wooden spade and stirred about for awhile. They then remain +exposed to the sun, until the oily part collects on the surface, which +is then skimmed off and well boiled. The "tortoise-butter" is now made, +and after being poured into earthen jars or bottles (_botijas_), it is +ready for market. The oil is clear, of a pale yellow colour, and some +regard it as equal to the best olive oil, both for lamps and for +cooking. Sometimes, however, it has a putrid smell, because many of the +eggs are already half hatched before the gathering takes place. + +What would be the result were these eggs not gathered by the Indians? +Perhaps in the different rivers of South America more than an hundred +millions of them are deposited every year! In the Orinoco alone, in +three principal hatching-places it has been calculated that at least +thirty-three millions are annually destroyed for the making of +tortoise-butter! Fancy, then, one hundred millions of animals, each of +which grows to the weight of fifty or sixty pounds, being produced every +year, and then the increase in production which these would make if left +to themselves! Why the rivers would be crowded; and it would be true +what old Father Gumilla once asserted, that "It would be as difficult to +count the grains of sand on the shores of the Orinoco, as to count the +immense number of tortoises that inhabit its margins and waters. Were +it not for the vast consumption of tortoises and their eggs, the river, +despite its great magnitude, would be unnavigable, for vessels would be +impeded by the enormous multitude of the tortoises." + +But nature has provided against this "over-population" of the turtles by +giving them a great many enemies. The jaguars, the ocelots, the +crocodiles, the cranes, and the vultures, all prey upon them; and, +perhaps, if man were to leave them alone, the result would be, not such +a great increase in the number of the turtles, but that the creatures +who prey upon them would come in for a larger share. + +The "carapa," or arrau turtle, is, when full grown, forty or fifty +pounds in weight. It is of a dark green colour above and orange +beneath, with yellow feet. There are many other species of fresh-water +turtles in the rivers of South America, but these breed separately, each +female choosing her own place, and making her deposit alone. Indeed, +some of the smaller species, as the "terekay," are more esteemed both +for their flesh and eggs; but as a large quantity of these eggs is never +found together, they are not collected as an article of trade, but only +to be roasted and eaten. The white does not coagulate in roasting or +boiling, and only the yolk is eaten, but that is esteemed quite as +palatable as the eggs of the common fowl. The flesh of all kinds is +eaten by the Indians, who fry it in pots, and then pour it with its own +oil into other vessels and permit it to cool. When thus prepared, it +will keep for a long time, and can be taken out when required for use. + +Most of the above particulars were communicated by Guapo; and when he +had finished talking, all the others went to sleep, leaving Guapo to his +midnight vigil. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO VERY SCALY CREATURES. + +When they awoke in the morning they found Guapo busy over the fire. He +had already been at the turtles' nests, and had collected a large +basketful of the eggs, some of which he was cooking for breakfast. In +addition to the eggs, moreover, half-a-dozen large turtles lay upon +their backs close by. The flesh of these Guapo intended to scoop out +and fry down, so as to be carried away as a sort of stock of preserved +meat;--and a very excellent idea it was. He had caught them during his +watch as they came out of the water. + +All the turtles had gone off, although this is not always the case; for +frequently numbers that have not finished covering their eggs during the +night may be seen hard at work in the morning, and so intent on it, that +they do not heed the presence of their worst enemies. These the Indians +denominate "mad tortoises." + +This morning, however, no "mad tortoises" were to be seen; but when our +travellers cast their eyes along the beach they saw quite a number that +appeared to be turned upon their backs just like those that Guapo had +capsized. They were at some distance from the camp, but curiosity +prompted our travellers to walk along the beach and examine them. Sure +enough there were nearly a dozen large tortoises regularly laid on their +backs, and unable to stir; but, besides these, there were several +tortoise-shells out of which the flesh had been freshly scooped, and +these were as neatly cleaned out as if the work had been done by an +anatomist. All this would have been a mystery but for the experience of +Guapo; but Guapo knew it was the jaguar that had turned the tortoises on +their backs, and that had cleaned out and eaten the flesh from the empty +shells! + +Now, it is no easy thing for a man, provided with the necessary +implements, to separate the flesh of a tortoise from its shell, and yet +the jaguar, with his paw, can in a few minutes perform this operation +most adroitly, as our travellers had full proof. All that they saw had +been done that same night; and it gave them no very pleasant feeling to +know that the jaguar had been at work so near them. This animal, as +Guapo said, in attacking the turtles, first turns them over, so as to +prevent their escape--for the "carapas" are of those tortoises that once +upon their backs on level ground cannot right themselves again. He then +proceeds to tear out the flesh, and eats it at his leisure. Oftentimes +he capsizes a far greater number than he can eat, and even returns to +the spot to have a second meal of them; but frequently the Indians +wandering along the river, find the tortoises he has turned over, and of +course make an easy capture of them. + +Guapo, upon this occasion, took advantage of the jaguar's skill, and +carried to the camp all that the latter had left. It was Guapo's design +to make a large quantity of "turtle sausage-meat," so that they might +have a supply for many days, as by this time even Guapo himself was +getting tired of the horse-flesh "charqui." + +They were about returning to camp, when their attention was drawn to two +dark objects upon the sand-beach a little farther on. These objects +were in motion, and at first they believed they were a pair of "mad +tortoises" that had not yet returned to the water, although they were +close to its edge. + +Led on by curiosity our party approached them, and saw that one only was +a tortoise, and one of the largest kind, being nearly three feet in +diameter. The other animal was a small caiman or alligator. + +As our travellers drew near they saw that these two creatures were +engaged in a fierce and deadly combat. Now, it is a curious fact that +the larger alligators and crocodiles are among the most destructive +enemies which the turtles have, eating thousands of the latter while +they are still tiny little creatures and unable to defend themselves; +and, on the other hand, that the turtles prey extensively on the young +of both alligators and crocodiles, eating them whenever they can catch +them! I say this is a curious fact in natural history, and it seems a +sort of retaliatory principle established between these two kinds of +reptiles, as if they ate one another's offspring _en revanche_. There +is no feeling of revenge, however, in the matter. It is merely an +instinct of appetite by which both kinds will eat almost any small fry +they come across. In fact, the alligators and crocodiles not only eat +the young of the turtles, but their own young as well. That is, the +_old males_ do; and it has been stated, that the males of some species +of tortoises have a similar unnatural appetite. + +The turtle of which we are speaking is one of the most carnivorous of +the whole race, and one of the fiercest in its nature too; so much so, +that it has earned the name of the "fierce tortoise" (_Testudo ferox_). +It will eat fish and small Crustacea, and almost any living thing it +finds in the water, which is not too large for it. It is extremely +expert in catching its prey. It lies concealed at the bottom among the +roots of flags and nymphae; and when any small fish chances to pass it, +by means of its long neck darts out its head and seizes upon its +unsuspecting victim. Once the bill of the "fierce turtle" has closed +upon any object its hold is secure. You may cut its head off, but +otherwise it cannot be forced to let go, until it has either captured +its prey or taken the piece with it. It will "nip" a stout walking-cane +between its mandibles, as if it was no more than a rush. + +A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise. The thief was +prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came +upon a large market-basket filled with provisions. He immediately +inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly +seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw +back his hand in the most hasty manner possible. But along with the +hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle. To get rid of the "ugly customer" +was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, +determined to have the finger. The scuffle, and the shouts which pain +compelled the thief to give utterance to, awoke the landlord and the +rest of the household; and before the thief could disengage himself and +escape, he was secured and given into custody. + +Well, it was just a tortoise of this species, a "snapping turtle," and +one of the largest size, that our travellers now saw doing battle with +the caiman. The caiman was not one of large size, else the turtle would +have fled from it, not that even the largest caimans are feared by the +full-grown _carapas_. No; the strong plate-armour of the latter +protects them both from the teeth and tail of this antagonist. The +jaguar, with his pliable paws and sharp subtle claws, is to them a more +dreaded assailant than the crocodile or caiman. + +The one in question was some six or seven feet long, and altogether not +much heavier than the turtle itself. It was not for the purpose of +eating each other they fought. No--their strife was evidently on other +grounds. No doubt the caiman had been attempting to plunder the +new-laid eggs of the tortoise, and the latter had detected him in the +act. At all events, the struggle must have been going on for some time, +for the sand was torn up, and scored, in many places, by the sharp claws +of both. + +The battle appeared to be still at its height when our party arrived on +the spot. Neither tortoise nor caiman paid any attention to their +presence, but fought on pertinaciously. The aim of the caiman appeared +to be to get the head of the tortoise in his mouth; but whenever he +attempted this, the latter suddenly drew his head within the shell, and +repeatedly disappointed him. The tortoise, on its part, rose at +intervals upon its hind-feet, and making a dash forward, would dart +forth its long neck, and clutch at the softer parts of its antagonist's +body just under the throat. Several times it had succeeded in this +manoeuvre, and each time it had brought the piece with it, so that the +caiman was already somewhat mangled. Another manoeuvre of the tortoise +was to seize the tail of its antagonist. Instinct seemed to teach it +that this was a vulnerable part, and for the purpose of reaching the +tail, it constantly kept crawling and edging round towards it. Now, +there is no movement so difficult for a reptile of the crocodile kind as +to turn its body on dry land. The peculiar formation of the vertebrae, +both of its neck and spine, renders this movement difficult; and in +"changing front," the reptile is forced to describe a full circle with +its unwieldy body--in fact to turn "all of a piece." The tortoise, +therefore, had the advantage, and, after several efforts, he at length +succeeded in outflanking his antagonist, and getting right round to his +rear. He lost no time, but, raising himself to his full height and +making a dart forward, seized the tail and held on. He had caught by +the very tip, and it was seen that his horny mandibles had taken a +proper hold. + +Now commenced a somewhat ludicrous scene. The caiman, though but a +small one, with the immense muscular power which he possessed in his +tail, if not able to detach his antagonist, was able to give him a sound +shaking, and the turtle was seen vibrating from side to side, dragged +along the sand. He held his broad yellow feet spread out on all sides, +so as to preserve his equilibrium, for he well knew that to lose that +would be to lose his life. Should he get turned on his back it would be +all over with him; but he carefully guarded against such a fatal +catastrophe. Of course there were intervals when the caiman became +tired, and remained still for a moment; and at each of these intervals +the tortoise renewed his hold, and, in fact, as our party now perceived, +was slowly, though surely, _eating the tail_! + +When this had continued a short while, the great saurian seemed to +despair. The pain, no doubt, caused him to weep "crocodile's tears," +though none were seen, but his eyes glared with a lurid light, and he +began to look around for some means of escape from his painful position. +His eyes fell upon the water. That promised something, although he +knew full well the turtle was as much at home there as he. At all +events, his situation could not be a worse one, and with this, or some +such reflection, he made a "dash" for the water. He was but a few feet +from it, but it cost him a good deal of pulling and dragging, and +clawing the sand, before he could get into it. In fact, the tortoise +knew that its position could not be benefited by the change, and would +have preferred fighting it out on dry land, and to do this he set his +claws as firmly as possible, and pulled the tail in the opposite +direction! + +The strength of the caiman at length prevailed. He got his body into +the water, and, with a few strokes of his webbed feet, jerked the turtle +after, and both were now fairly launched. Once in the river, the caiman +seemed to gain fresh vigour. His tail vibrated violently and rapidly, +throwing the tortoise from side to side until the foam floated around +them, and then both suddenly sank to the bottom. + +Whether they continued "attached," or became "separated" there, or +whether the turtle killed the lizard, or the lizard the turtle, or "each +did kill the other," no one ever knew, as it is highly probable that no +human eye ever saw either of them again. + +At all events, no one of our party saw any more of them; and, having +watched the surface for some time, they turned in their steps and walked +back to the camp. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +A PAIR OF VALIANT VULTURES. + +They had got into a part of the river that seemed to be a favourite +resort with turtles and crocodiles, and creatures of that description. +At different times they saw turtles of different kinds; among others, +the "painted turtle," a beautiful species that derives its names from +the fine colouring of its shell, which appears as if it had been painted +in enamel. Of crocodiles, too, they saw three or four distinct species, +and not unfrequently, the largest of all, the great black crocodile +(_Jacare nigra_). This was sometimes seen of the enormous length of +over twenty feet! Terrible-looking as these crocodiles are, they are +not masters of every creature upon the river. There are even birds that +can sorely vex them, and compel them to take to the water to save +themselves from a fearful calamity--blindness. + +One day, while descending the river, our travellers were witness to an +illustration of this. + +They were passing a wide sand-bank that shelved back from the river, +with a scarcely perceptible slope, when they saw, at a distance of about +two hundred yards from the water's edge, a crocodile making for the +river. He looked as though he had just awoke from his torpid sleep, for +his body was caked all over with dry mud, and he seemed both hungry and +thirsty. It was like enough he was coming from some inland pond, where +the water had dried up, and he was now on his way to the river. + +All at once two dark shadows were seen passing over the white surface of +the sand-bank. In the heaven two large birds were wheeling about, +crossing each other in their courses, and holding their long necks +downwards, as if the crocodile was the object of their regard. + +The latter, on seeing them, paused; and lowered his body into a squatted +or crouching attitude, as if in the birds he recognised an enemy. And +yet what could such a large creature fear from a pair of "king +vultures?" for king vultures they were, as was easily seen by their +red-orange heads and cream-coloured plumage. What could a crocodile, +full ten feet long, fear from these, even had they been eagles, or the +great condor himself? No matter; he was evidently frightened at them; +and each time that they drew near in their flight, he stopped and +flattened his body against the sand, as if that might conceal him. As +soon as they flew off again to a more distant point of their aerial +circle, he would once more elevate himself on his arms, and make all +haste toward the water. + +He had got within about an hundred yards of the river, when the birds +made a sudden turn in the sky, and swooping down, alighted upon the sand +directly before the snout of the crocodile. The latter stopped again, +and kept his eyes fixed upon them. They did not leave him long to rest; +for one of them, making a few hops towards him, came so close, that it +might have been supposed the crocodile could have seized it in his jaws. +This, in fact, he attempted to do; but the wary bird threw up its broad +wings, and flapped to one side out of his reach. Meanwhile, the other +had hopped close up to his opposite shoulder; and while the crocodile +was engaged with the first one, this made a dash forward, aiming its +great open beak at the eye of the reptile. The crocodile parried the +thrust by a sudden turn of his head; but he had scarcely got round, when +the second vulture, watching its opportunity, rushed forward at the +other eye. It must have succeeded in pecking it, for the great lizard +roared out with the pain; and rushing forward a bit, writhed and lashed +the sand with his tail. + +The vultures paid no attention to these demonstrations, but only kept +out of the way of the teeth and claws of their antagonist; and then, +when he became still again, both returned to the attack as before. One +after the other was seen dashing repeatedly forward--using both legs and +wings to effect their object, and each time darting out their great +beaks towards the eyes of the reptile. The head of the latter kept +continuously moving from side to side; but move where it would, the +beaks of the vultures were ready to meet it, and to pierce into the +sockets of those deep lurid eyes. + +This terrible contest lasted all the time the balza was floating by. It +was a slow current at this place, and our travellers were a long time in +passing, so that they had a good opportunity of witnessing the strange +spectacle. Long after they had glided past, they saw that the conflict +continued. They could still perceive the black body of the reptile upon +the white sandbank, writhing and struggling, while the flapping wings of +the vultures showed that they still kept up their terrible attack. But +the head of the crocodile was no longer directed towards the water. At +the first onset the reptile had used every effort to retreat in that +direction. He knew that his only safety lay in getting into the river, +and sinking beyond the reach of his adversaries. At every interval +between their assaults, he had been seen to crawl forward, stopping only +when compelled to defend himself. Now, however, his head was seen +turned from the water; sometimes he lay parallel with the stream; and +sometimes he appeared to be heading back for the woods, while his +struggles and contortions betrayed the agony he was undergoing. But his +turning in this way was easily accounted for. He knew not in what +direction lay the river. He could no longer see. His eyes were +mutilated by the beaks of the birds. _He was blind_! + +Guapo said the vultures would not leave him until they had made a meal +of his eyes, and that was all they wanted. He would then remain on +shore, perhaps without finding his way back to the water, and most +likely be attacked by jaguars, or other preying creatures, who could +conquer him the easier now that he was deprived of his sight! + +As the balza glided on, Guapo told our travellers many strange stories +of crocodiles. He stated, what is well known to be true, that in the +rivers of South America many people are every year killed by these +ravenous creatures; in fact, far more than have ever fallen victims to +the salt-sea sharks. In some places they are much fiercer than in +others; but this may arise from different species being the inhabitants +of these different places. There is the true crocodile, with long sharp +snout, and large external tusks; and the caiman, with a snout broader +and more pike-shaped; and the former is a much more courageous and +man-eating creature. Both are often found in the same river; but they +do not associate together, but keep in distinct bands or societies; and +they are often mistaken for each other. This may account for the +difference of opinion that exists in regard to the fierceness of these +reptiles--many asserting that they are utterly harmless, and will not +attack man under any circumstances; while others, who have witnessed +their attacks, of course bearing testimony to the contrary. There are +many places in South America, where the natives will fearlessly enter a +lake or river known to be full of crocodiles, and drive these creatures +aside with a piece of a stick; but there are other districts where +nothing will tempt an Indian to swim across a river infested with these +reptiles. In the Amazon districts, in every Indian village, several +people may be seen who have been maimed by crocodiles. No wonder that +among author-travellers there should be such a difference of opinion. + +Guapo stated, that when an Indian has been seized by a crocodile in its +great jaws, he has only one chance of escape, and that is, by thrusting +his fingers into the eyes of the reptile. This will invariably cause it +to let go its hold, and generally frighten it, so as to enable the +person to escape. It, of course, requires great presence of mind to +effect this, as the person who has been seized will himself be in great +pain from the tearing teeth of the monster, and, perhaps, will have been +drawn under the water, before he can gather his senses. But it has +often occurred that Indians, and even women, have escaped in this way. + +The eyes of the crocodile are its most tender parts,--in fact, the only +parts that can be made to feel pain. A crocodile may be disabled by +cutting at the root of its tail, but it can only be frightened by an +attack upon the eyes; and this appears to be a well-known fact, not only +to the Indians, but to all its other enemies among the birds and +quadrupeds. + +The young crocodiles are often attacked, and have their eyes pecked out, +by the small gallinazo or "zamuro" vultures (_aura_ and _cathartes_), +just in the same way that we have seen one of a larger size become the +victim of the more powerful king vultures (_Sarcoramphus papa_). + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +THE "GAPO." + +After many days of rafting our travellers arrived in a most singular +country. They were now approaching the mighty Amazon, and the river +upon which they had hitherto been travelling appeared to divide into +many branches, where it formed _deltas_ with the Amazon. Every day, and +sometimes two or three times in the day, they passed places where the +river forked, as though each branch passed round an island, but our +travellers perceived that these branches did not meet again; and they +conjectured that they all fell into the Amazon by separate embouchures. +They were often puzzled to know which one to take, as the main river was +not always broadest, and they might get into one that was not navigable +below. A curious region it was through which they passed; for, in fact, +they were now travelling in the country of the "Gapo." + +What is the "Gapo?" you will ask. The "Gapo," then, is the name given +to vast tracts of country upon the Amazon and some of its tributary +streams, that are annually inundated, and remain under water for several +months in the year. It extends for hundreds of miles along the Amazon +itself, and up many of the rivers, its tributaries also, for hundreds of +miles. + +But the whole country does not become one clear sheet of water, as is +the case with floods in other parts of the world. On the contrary, high +as is the flood, the tree-tops and their branches rise still higher, and +we have in the "Gapo" the extraordinary spectacle of a flooded forest, +thousands of square miles in extent! + +In this forest the trees do not perish, but retain life and verdure. In +fact, the trees of this part are peculiar, most of them differing in +kind from the trees of any other region. There are species of palms +growing in the "Gapo" that are found nowhere else; and there are animals +and birds, too, that remain in this region during the whole season of +flood. It has been further asserted that there are tribes of "Gapo" +Indians, who live in the middle of the inundation, making their +dwellings upon the trees, and who can pass from branch to branch and +tree to tree almost as nimbly as monkeys. This may or may not be true. +It would not be a new thing, if true, for it is well known that the +Guarano Indians, at the mouth of the Orinoco, dwell among the tops of +the murichi palms (_Mauritia flexuosa_) during many months of the season +of flood. These people build platforms on the palms, and upon these +erect roofs, and sling their hammocks, and, with little fireplaces of +mud, are enabled to cook their provisions upon them. But they have +canoes, in which they are able to go from place to place, and capture +fish, upon which they principally subsist. The murichi palm furnishes +them with all the other necessaries of life. + +This singular tree is one of the noblest of the palms. It rises to a +height of more than one hundred feet, and grows in immense _palmares_, +or palm-woods, often covering the bank of the river for miles. It is +one of those called "fan-palms,"--that is, the leaves, instead of being +pinnate or feathery, have long naked stalks, at the end of which the +leaflets spread out circularly, forming a shape like a fan. One of the +murichi leaves is a grand sight. The leaf-stalk, or petiole, is a foot +thick where it sprouts from the trunk; and before it reaches the +leaflets it is a solid beam of ten or twelve feet long, while the +circular fan or leaf itself is nine or ten in diameter! A single leaf +of the murichi palm is a full load for a man. + +With a score of such leaves,--shining and ever verdant as they are,--at +the top of its column-like trunk, what a majestic tree is the murichi +palm! + +But it is not more beautiful than useful. Its leaves, fruit, and stem, +are all put to some use in the domestic economy of the Indians. The +leaf-stalk, when dried, is light and elastic, like the quill of a bird-- +owing to the thin, hard, outer covering and soft internal pith. Out of +the outer rind, when split off, the Indian makes baskets and +window-blinds. The pithy part is separated into laths, about half an +inch thick, with which window-shutters, boxes, bird-cages, partitions, +and even entire walls, are constructed. The epidermis of the leaves +furnishes the strings for hammocks and all kinds of cordage. From the +fruits a favourite beverage is produced, and these fruits are also +pleasant eating, somewhat resembling apples. They are in appearance +like pine-cones, of a red colour outside and yellow pulp. The trunk +itself furnishes a pith or marrow that can be used as sago; and out of +the wood the Indian cuts his buoyant canoe! In short, there are tribes +of Indians that not only live, in a literal sense, on the murichi palms, +but that almost subsist on them. + +Although the flood had, to a considerable extent, subsided, the river in +most places was still beyond its banks; and this made it difficult for +our travellers to find a place for their night-camps. Several nights +they were obliged to sleep, as they best could, on the balza,--the +latter being secured to a tree. Sometimes, by pushing some distance up +the mouth of an "igaripe," or creek, they were able to find dry ground, +on which to encamp. During their passage through this labyrinth of +rivers, they travelled but very slowly, and their provisions were fast +running out. There was no chance for increasing their stock, as they +could not find either wild-hogs (peccaries) or capivaras. These +creatures, although they can swim well enough, would only be found upon +the banks of the river, when it returned within its proper channel. + +Now and then Guapo brought down a parrot, a macaw, or an aracari, with +his blow-gun; but these were only temporary supplies. They had often +heard howling monkeys in the trees, but had not been able to see them; +and none of the party would have refused to eat roast-monkey now, as +they had all tried it and found it quite palatable. Guapo, blow-gun in +hand, was continually peering up among the tree-tops in search of +monkeys or other game. He was, at length, rewarded for his vigilance. + +One night they had pushed the balza up an "igaripe" for a hundred yards +or so, where a dry bank gave them an opportunity of landing. The creek +itself was not much wider than the balza, and tall trees stood upon both +banks. In one or two places the thorny "jacitara" palm--which is a sort +of climbing plant, often hanging over the branches of other trees-- +nearly reached across the stream. These curious palms had even to be +cautiously pushed to one side as the balza passed,--for the arrowy claws +upon them, if once hooked into the clothes of the passengers, would +either have dragged the latter from off the raft, or have torn out the +piece of cloth. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +THE ARAGUATOES. + +Our party had passed several of these jacitaras, made the balza fast, +landed, and were just cooking their scanty supper, when they heard a +band of howling monkeys afar off in the woods. There was nothing +unusual in this; for these creatures are heard at all times among the +forests of the Amazon, especially at sunrise and before sunset, or +whenever there is any appearance of the approach of a rain-storm. Our +travellers would not have noticed their voices on this occasion, but +that they seemed to be approaching in that direction; and as they were +coming along the bank of the main river, Guapo concluded that on +arriving at the "igaripe," they would turn up it and pass near where the +balza was, and thus he might have them within reach of his gravatana. +It was certain they were coming down the river side--of course upon the +tree-tops, and would, no doubt, turn up as Guapo expected, for the trees +on the opposite side of the igaripe stood too far apart even for monkeys +to spring across. + +After waiting for half-an-hour or so, the hideous howling of the monkeys +could be heard at no great distance, and they were taking the desired +route. In fact, in a few minutes after, the troop appeared upon some +tall trees that stood on the edge of the creek, not fifty yards from +where the balza was moored. They were large animals, of that lanky and +slender shape that characterises the prehensile-tailed monkeys; but +these were different from the _ateles_ already mentioned. They were +true howlers, as they had already proved by the cries they had been +uttering for the half-hour past. There are several species of howling +monkeys, as we have already stated. Those that had arrived on the +igaripe Guapo pronounced to be _araguatoes_. Their bodies are of a +reddish-brown colour on the body and shoulders, lighter underneath, and +their naked wrinkled faces are of a bluish black, and with very much of +the expression of an old man. Their hair is full and bushy, and gives +them some resemblance to a bear, whence their occasional name of +"bear-ape," and also their zoological designation, _Simia ursina_. The +araguato is full three feet without the tail, and that powerful member +is much longer. When the band made its appearance on the igaripe, they +were seen to come to a halt, all of them gathering into a great tree +that stood by the water's edge. This tree rose higher than the rest, +and the most of the monkeys having climbed among the top branches, were +visible from the balza. There were about fifty in the troop, and one +that seemed larger than any of the others appeared to act as leader. +Many of them were females, and there were not a few that had young ones, +which they carried upon their backs just as the Indian mothers and those +of other savage nations carry their children. Most of the little +monkeys lay along the backs of their mothers, clasping them around the +neck with their fore-arms, while their hind ones girdled the middle of +the body. But it was in their tails the little fellows seemed to place +most reliance. The top parts of these were firmly lapped around the +thick base of the tails of the old ones, and thus not only secured their +seat, but made it quite impossible for them to drop off. No force could +have shaken them from this hold, without dragging out their tails or +tearing their bodies to pieces. Indeed, it was necessary they should be +thus firmly seated, as the exertions of the mothers,--their quick +motions and long springing leaps from tree to tree--would otherwise have +been impossible. + +On reaching the bank of the igaripe, the araguatoes were evidently at +fault. Their intention had been to proceed down along the main river, +and the creek now interfered. Its water lay directly across their +course, and how were they to get over it? Swim it, you may say. Ha! +little do you know the dread these creatures have of water. Yes; +strange to say, although many species of them pass their lives upon +trees that overhang water, or even grow out of it, they are as much +afraid of the water beneath them as if it were fire. A cat is not half +so dainty about wetting her feet as some monkeys are; and besides a cat +can swim, which the monkeys cannot--at best so badly that in a few +minutes they would drown. Strange, is it not, that among animals, those +that approach nearest to man, like him are not gifted by nature with the +power of swimming? It is evident, then, that that is an art left to be +discovered by the intellect of man. To fall into the water would be a +sad mishap for a monkey, not only on account of the ducking, but of the +danger. There is not much likelihood of an araguato falling in. Even +though one branch may have broken and failed it, in the great concave +sphere which it can so quickly trace around it by means of its five long +members, it is sure of finding a second. No; the araguatoes might spend +a lifetime in the flooded forest without even wetting a hair farther +than what is wetted by the rain. + +From their movements, it was evident the igaripe had puzzled them; and a +consultation was called among the branches of the tall tree already +mentioned. Upon one of the very highest sat the large old fellow who +was evidently leader of the band. His harangue was loud and long, +accompanied by many gestures of his hands, head, and tail. It was, no +doubt, exceedingly eloquent. Similar speeches delivered by other old +araguato chiefs, have been compared to the creaking of an ungreased +bullock-cart, mingled with the rumbling of the wheels! + +Our party thought the comparison a just one. The old chief finished at +length. Up to this point not one of the others had said a word. They +all sat silent, observing perfect decorum; indeed, much greater than is +observed in the great British Parliament or the Congress of America. +Occasionally one of the children might utter a slight squeak, or throw +out its hand to catch a mosquito; but in such cases a slap from the paw +of the mother, or a rough shaking, soon reduced it to quiet. When the +chief had ended speaking, however, no debate in either Congress or +Parliament could have equalled the noise that then arose. Every +araguato seemed to have something to say, and all spoke at the same +time. If the speech of the old one was like the creaking of a +bullock-cart, the voices of all combined might appropriately be compared +to a whole string of these vehicles, with half the quantity of grease +and a double allowance of wheels! + +Once more the chief, by a sign, commanded silence, and the rest became +mute and motionless as before. + +This time the speech of the leader appeared to refer to the business in +hand--in short, to the crossing of the igaripe. He was seen repeatedly +pointing in that direction, as he spoke, and the rest followed his +motions with their eyes. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +BRIDGING AN IGARIPE. + +The tree upon which the araguatoes were assembled stood near the edge of +the water, but there was another still nearer. This was also a tall +tree free of branches for a great way up. On the opposite bank of the +igaripe was a very similar tree, and the long horizontal branches of the +two were separated from each other by a space of about twenty feet. It +was with these two trees that the attention of the araguatoes appeared +to be occupied; and our travellers could tell by their looks and +gestures that they were conversing about, and calculating, the distance +between their upper branches. For what purpose? Surely they do not +expect to be able to make a crossing between them? No creature without +wings could pass from the one to the other! Such were the questions and +doubts expressed by Leon, and indeed by all except Guapo, but Guapo had +seen araguatoes before, and knew some of their tricks. Guapo, +therefore, boldly pronounced that it was their intention to cross the +igaripe by these two trees. He was about to explain the manner in which +they would accomplish it, when the movement commenced, and rendered his +explanation quite unnecessary. + +At a commanding cry from the chief, several of the largest and strongest +monkeys swung themselves into the tree that stood on the edge of the +water. Here, after a moment's reconnoissance, they were seen to get +upon a horizontal limb--one that projected diagonally over the igaripe. +There were no limbs immediately underneath it on the same side of the +tree; and for this very reason had they selected it. Having advanced +until they were near its top, the foremost of the monkeys let himself +down upon his tail, and hung head downward. Another slipped down the +body of the first, and clutched him around the neck and fore-arms with +his strong tail, with his head down also. A third succeeded the second, +and a fourth the third, and so on until a string of monkeys dangled from +the limb. A motion was now produced by the monkeys striking other +branches with their feet, until the long string oscillated back and +forwards like the pendulum of a clock. This oscillation was gradually +increased, until the monkey at the lower end was swung up among the +branches of the tree on the opposite side of the igaripe. After +touching them once or twice, he discovered that he was within reach; and +the next time when he had reached the highest point of the oscillating +curve, he threw out his long thin fore-arms, and firmly clutching the +branches, held fast. + +The oscillation now ceased. The living chain stretched across the +igaripe from tree to tree, and, curving slightly, hung like a +suspension-bridge. A loud screaming, and gabbling, and chattering, and +howling, proceeded from the band of araguatoes, who, up to this time, +had watched the manoeuvres of their comrades in silence--all except the +old chief, who occasionally had given directions both with voice and +gestures. But the general gabble that succeeded was, no doubt, an +expression of the satisfaction of all that the _bridge was built_. + +The troop now proceeded to cross over, one or two old ones going first-- +perhaps to try the strength of the bridge. Then went the mothers +carrying their young on their backs, and after them the rest of the +band. + +It was quite an amusing scene to witness, and the behaviour of the +monkeys would have caused any one to laugh. Even Guapo could not +restrain his mirth at seeing those who formed the bridge biting the +others that passed over them, both on the legs and tails, until the +latter screamed again! + +The old chief stood at the near end and directed the crossing. Like a +brave officer, he was the last to pass over. When all the others had +preceded him, he crossed after, carrying himself in a stately and +dignified manner. None dared to bite at his legs. They knew better +than play off their tricks on him, and he crossed quietly and without +any molestation. + +Now the string still remained suspended between the trees. How were the +monkeys that formed it to get themselves free again? Of course the one +that had clutched the branch with his arms might easily let go, but that +would bring them back to the same side from which they had started, and +would separate them from the rest of the band. Those constituting the +bridge would, therefore, be as far from crossing as ever! + +There seemed to be a difficulty here--that is, to some of our +travellers. To the monkeys themselves there was none. They knew well +enough what they were about, and they would have got over the apparent +difficulty in the following manner:--The one at the tail end of the +bridge would simply have let go his hold, and the whole string would +then have swung over and hung from the tree on the opposite bank, into +which they could have climbed at their leisure. I say they _would_ have +done so had nothing interfered to prevent them from completing the +manoeuvre. But an obstacle intervened which brought the affair to a +very different termination. + +Guapo had been seated along with the rest, gravatana in hand. He showed +great forbearance in not having used the gravatana long before, for he +was all the while quite within reach of the araguatoes; but this +forbearance on his part was not of his own free-will. Don Pablo had, in +fact, hindered him, in order that he and the others should have an +opportunity of witnessing the singular manoeuvres of the monkeys. +Before the scene was quite over, however, the Indian begged Don Pablo to +let him shoot, reminding him how much they stood in need of a little +"monkey-meat." This had the effect Guapo desired; the consent was +given, and the gravatana was pointed diagonally upwards. Once more +Guapo's cheeks were distended--once more came the strong, quick puff-- +and away went the arrow. The next moment it was seen sticking in the +neck of one of the monkeys. + +Now, the one which Guapo had aimed at and hit was that which had grasped +the tree on the opposite side with its arms. Why did he choose this +more than any other? Was it because it was nearer, or more exposed to +view? Neither of these was the reason. It was, that had he shot any of +the others in the string--they being supported by their tails--it would +not have fallen; the tail, as we have already seen, still retaining its +prehensile power even to death. But that one which held on to the tree +by its fore-arms would in a second or two be compelled from weakness to +let go, and the whole chain would drop back on the near side of the +igaripe. This was just what Guapo desired, and he waited for the +result. It was necessary only to wait half-a-dozen seconds. The monkey +was evidently growing weak under the influence of the _curare_, and was +struggling to retain its hold. In a moment it must let go. + +The araguato at the "tail-end" of the bridge, not knowing what had +happened, and thinking all was right for swinging himself across, +slipped his tail from the branch just at the very same instant that the +wounded one let go, and the whole chain fell "souse" into the water! +Then the screaming and howling from those on shore, the plunging and +splashing of the monkeys in the stream, mingled with the shouts of Leon, +Guapo, and the others, created a scene of noise and confusion that +lasted for several minutes. In the midst of it, Guapo threw himself +into the canoe, and with a single stroke of his paddle shot right down +among the drowning monkeys. One or two escaped to the bank, and made +off; several went to the bottom; but three, including the wounded one, +fell into the clutches of the hunter. + +Of course roast-monkey was added to the supper; but none of the +travellers slept very well after it, as the araguatoes, lamenting their +lost companions, kept up a most dismal wailing throughout the whole of +the night. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +THE MANATI. + +The araguatoes, with dried plantains and cassava, were the food of our +travellers for several days after. On the evening of the third day they +had a change. Guapo succeeded in capturing a very large turtle, which +served for relish at several meals. His mode of taking the turtle was +somewhat curious, and deserves to be described. + +The balza had been brought to the bank, and they were just mooring it, +when something out on the water attracted the attention of Leon and +Leona. It was a small, darkish object, and would not have been observed +but for the ripple that it made on the smooth surface of the river, and +by this they could tell that it was in motion. + +"A water-snake!" said Leon. + +"Oh!" ejaculated the little Leona, "I hope not, brother Leon." + +"On second thoughts," replied Leon, "I don't think it is a snake." + +Of course the object was a good distance off, else Leon and Leona would +not have talked so coolly about it. But their words had reached the ear +of Dona Isidora, and drawn her attention to what they were talking +about. + +"No; it is not a snake," said she. "I fancy it is a turtle." + +Guapo up to this had been busy with Don Pablo in getting the balza made +fast. The word "turtle," however, caught his ear at once, and he looked +up, and then out on the river in the direction where Leon and Leona were +pointing. As soon as his eye rested upon the moving object he replied +to the remark of Dona Isidora. + +"Yes, my mistress," said he, "it is a turtle, and a big one too. Please +all keep quiet--I think I can get him." + +How Guapo was to get the turtle was a mystery to all. The latter was +about thirty paces distant, but it would be difficult, if not +impossible, to hit his small snout--the only part above water--with the +arrow of the blow-gun. Moreover, they thought that the arrow would not +penetrate the hard, bony-substance, so as to stick there and infuse its +poison into the wound. + +These conjectures were true enough, but his gravatana was not the weapon +which Guapo was about to use. He had other weapons as well--a +fish-spear or harpoon, and a regular bow and arrows, which he had made +during his leisure hours in the valley. + +The latter was the weapon with which the tortoise was to be killed. + +Taking the bow, and adjusting an arrow to the string, Guapo stepped +forward to the water's edge. All watched him, uttering their hopes of +his success. It was still not clear with them how the turtle was to be +killed by an arrow shot from a bow any more than by one sent from a +blow-gun. Would it not glance from the shell even should he succeed in +hitting it under water? Surely it would! + +As they stood whispering their conjectures to one another, they observed +Guapo, to their great astonishment, _pointing his arrow upward_, and +making as if he was going to discharge it in the air! This he, in fact, +_did_ do a moment after; and they would have been puzzled by his +apparently strange conduct, had they not observed, in the next instant, +that the arrow, after flying high up, came down again head-foremost and +stuck upright in the back of the turtle. + +The turtle dived at once, and all of them expected to see the upright +arrow carried under water. What was their surprise as well as chagrin +to see that it had fallen out, and was floating on the surface! Of +course the wound had only been a slight one, and the turtle would +escape, and be none the worse for it. + +But Guapo shared neither their surprise nor chagrin. Guapo felt sure +that the turtle was his, and said nothing; but, jumping into the canoe, +began to paddle himself out to where the creature had been last seen. +What could he be after? thought they. + +As they watched him, they saw that he made for the floating arrow. +"Oh!" said they, "he is gone to recover it." + +That seemed probable enough, but, to their astonishment, as he +approached the weapon it took a start, and ran away from him! Something +below dragged it along the water. That was clear, and they began to +comprehend the mystery. The _head_ of the arrow was still sticking in +the shell of the turtle. It was only the shaft that floated, and that +was attached to the head by a string! The latter had been but loosely +put on, so that the pressure of the water, as the turtle dived, should +separate it from the shaft, leaving the shaft with its cord to act as a +buoy, and discover the situation of the turtle. + +Guapo, in his swift canoe, soon laid hold of the shaft, and after a +little careful manoeuvring, succeeded in landing his turtle high and dry +upon the bank. A splendid prize it proved. It was a "jurara" +tortoise--the "tataruga," or great turtle of the Portuguese, and its +shell was full three feet in diameter. + +Guapo's mode of capturing the "jurara" is the same as that generally +practised by the Indians of the Amazon, although strong nets and the +hook are also used. The arrow is always discharged upwards, and the +range calculated with such skill, that it falls vertically on the shell +of the turtle, and penetrates deep enough to stick, and detach itself +from the shaft. This mode of shooting is necessary, else the jurara +could not be killed by an arrow, because it never shows more than the +tip of its snout above water, and any arrow hitting it in a direct +course would glance harmlessly from its shell. A good bowman among the +Indians will rarely miss shooting in this way,--long practice and native +skill enabling him to guess within an inch of where his weapon will +fall. + +In the towns of the Lower Amazon, where turtles are brought to market, a +small square hole may be observed in the shells of these creatures. +That is the mark of the arrow-head. + +Guapo lost no time in turning his turtle inside out, and converting part +of it into a savoury supper, while the remainder was fried into +sausage-meat, and put away for the following day. + +But on that following day a much larger stock of sausage-meat was +procured from a very different animal, and that was a "cow." + +"How?" you exclaim,--"a cow in the wild forests of the Amazon! Why, you +have said that no cattle--either cows or horses--can exist there without +man to protect them, else they would be devoured by pumas, jaguars, and +bats. Perhaps they had arrived at some settlement where cows were +kept?" + +Not a bit of it; your conjecture, my young friend, is quite astray. +There was not a civilised settlement for many hundreds of miles from +where Guapo got his cow--nor a cow neither, of the sort you are thinking +of. But there are more kinds of cows than one; and, perhaps, you may +have heard of a creature called the "fish-cow?" Well, that is the sort +of cow I am speaking of. Some term it the "sea-cow," but this is an +improper name for it, since it also inhabits fresh-water rivers +throughout all tropical America. It is known as the _Manati_, and the +Portuguese call it "_peixe hoi_," which is only "fish-cow" done into +Portuguese. + +It is a curious creature the fish-cow, and I shall offer you a short +description of it. It is usually about seven feet in length, and five +round the thickest part of the body, which latter is quite smooth, and +tapers off into a horizontal flat tail, semicircular in shape. There +are no hind-limbs upon the animal, but just behind the head are two +powerful fins of an oval shape. There is no neck to be perceived; and +the head, which is not very large, terminates in a large mouth and +fleshy lips, which are not unlike those of a cow: hence its name of +"cow-fish." There are stiff bristles on the upper lip, and a few thinly +scattered hairs over the rest of the body. Behind the oval fins are two +_mamma_, or breasts, from which, when pressed, flows a stream of +beautiful white milk. Both eyes and ears are very small in proportion +to the size of the animal, but, nevertheless, it has full use of these +organs, and is not easily approached by its enemy. + +The colour of the skin is a dusky lead, with some flesh-coloured marks +on the belly, and the skin itself is an inch thick at its thickest part, +on the back. Beneath the skin is a layer of fat, of great thickness, +which makes excellent oil when boiled. As we have said, the manati has +no appearance of hind-limbs. Its fore-limbs, however, are highly +developed for a water animal. The bones in them correspond to those in +the human arm, having five fingers with the joints distinct, yet so +enclosed in an inflexible sheath that not a joint can be moved. + +The cow-fish feeds on grass, coming in to the borders of the lakes and +rivers to procure it. It can swim very rapidly by means of its flat +tail and strong fins, and is not so easily captured as might be +supposed. All the art of the hunter is required to effect its +destruction. The harpoon is the weapon usually employed, though +sometimes they are caught in strong nets stretched across the mouths of +rivers or the narrow arms of lakes. The flesh of the manati is much +esteemed, and tastes somewhat between beef and pork, altogether +different from "fish." Fried in its own oil, and poured into pots or +jars, it can be preserved for many months. + +As already stated, on the day after Guapo shot the turtle--in fact, the +next morning--just as they were going to shove off, some of the party, +in gazing from the edge of the balza, noticed a queer-looking animal in +the clear water below. It was no other than a "fish-cow;" and, as they +continued to examine it more attentively, they were astonished to +observe that, with its short paddle-like limbs, it hugged two miniature +models of itself close to its two breasts. These were the "calves" in +the act of suckling, for such is the mode in which the manati nourishes +her young. + +All the others would have watched this spectacle for a while, interested +in the maternal and filial traits thus exhibited by a subaqueous +creature, but while they stood looking into the water, something glanced +before their eyes, and glided with a plunge to the bottom. It was the +harpoon of Guapo. + +Blood rose to the surface immediately, and there was a considerable +plashing as the strong manati made its attempt to escape; but the head +of the harpoon was deeply buried in its flesh, and, with the attached +cord, Guapo soon hauled the animal ashore. It was as much as he and Don +Pablo could do to drag it on dry land; but the knife soon took it to +pieces; and then several hours were spent in making it fit for +preservation. Its fat and flesh yielded enough to fill every spare +vessel our travellers had got; and, when all were filled, the balza was +pushed off, and they continued their voyage without any fear of short +rations for some time to come. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +THE CLOSING CHAPTER. + +After many days of difficult navigation the balza floated upon the broad +and mighty Amazon, whose yellowish-olive flood flowed yet fifteen +hundred miles farther to the Atlantic Ocean. + +The current was in most places over four miles an hour, and the +navigation smooth and easy--so that our travellers rarely made less than +fifty miles a-day. There was considerable monotony in the landscape, on +account of the absence of mountains, as the Amazon, through most of its +course, runs through a level plain. The numerous bends and sudden +windings of the stream, however, continually opening out into new and +charming vistas, and the ever-changing variety of vegetation, formed +sources of delight to the travellers. + +Almost every day they passed the mouth of some tributary river--many of +these appearing as large as the Amazon itself. Our travellers were +struck with a peculiarity in relation to these rivers--that is, their +variety of colour. Some were whitish, with a tinge of olive, like the +Amazon itself; others were blue and transparent; while a third kind had +waters as black as ink. Of the latter class is the great river of the +Rio Negro--which by means of a tributary (the Cassiquiare) joins the +Amazon with the Orinoco. + +Indeed, the rivers of the Amazon valley have been classed into _white, +blue_, and _black_. Red rivers, such as are common in the northern +division of the American continent, do not exist in the valley of the +Amazon. + +There appears to be no other explanation for this difference in the +colour of rivers, except by supposing that they take their hue from the +nature of the soil through which these channels run. + +But the _white_ rivers, as the Amazon itself, do not appear to be of +this hue merely because they are "muddy." On the contrary, they derive +their colour, or most of it, from some impalpable substance held in a +state of irreducible solution. This is proved from the fact, that even +when these waters enter a reservoir, and the earthy matter is allowed to +settle, they still retain the same tinge of yellowish olive. There are +some white rivers, as the Rio Branco, whose waters are almost as white +as milk itself! + +The _blue_ rivers of the Amazon valley are those with clear transparent +waters, and the courses of these lie through rocky countries where there +is little or no alluvium to render them turbid. + +The _black_ streams are the most remarkable of all. These, when deep, +look like rivers of ink; and when the bottom can be seen, which is +usually a sandy one, the sand has the appearance of gold. Even when +lifted in a vessel, the water retains its inky tinge, and resembles that +which may be found in the pools of peat-bogs. It is a general +supposition in South America that the black-water rivers get their +colour from the extract of sarsaparilla roots growing on their banks. +It is possible the sarsaparilla roots may have something to do with it, +in common with both the roots and leaves of many other vegetables. No +other explanation has yet been found to account for the dark colour of +these rivers, except the decay of vegetable substances carried in their +current; and it is a fact that all the black-water streams run through +the most thickly wooded regions. + +A curious fact may be mentioned of the black rivers; that is, that +mosquitoes--the plague of tropical America--are not found on their +banks. This is not only a curious, but an important fact, and might be +sufficient to determine any one on the choice of a settlement. You may +deem a mosquito a very small thing, and its presence a trifling +annoyance. Let me tell you that settlements have been broken up and +deserted on account of the persecution experienced from these little +insects! They are the real "wild beasts" of South America, far more to +be dreaded than pumas, or crocodiles, or snakes, or even the fierce +jaguar himself. + +Day after day our travellers kept on their course, meeting with many +incidents and adventures--too many to be recorded in this little volume. +After passing the mouth of the Rio Negro, they began to get a peep now +and then of high land, and even mountains, in the distance; for the +valley of the Amazon, on approaching its mouth, assumes a different +character from what it has farther up-stream. These mountains bend +towards it both from the Brazilian country on the south, and from Guiana +on the north, and these are often visible from the bosom of the stream +itself. + +It was about a month from their entering the main stream of the Amazon, +and a little more than two from the first launching of their vessel, +when the balza was brought alongside the wharf of Grand Para, and Don +Pablo and his party stepped on shore at this Brazilian town. Here, of +course, Don Pablo was a free man--free to go where he pleased--free to +dispose of his cargo as he thought best. But he did _not_ dispose of it +at Grand Para. A better plan presented itself. He was enabled to +freight part of a vessel starting for New York, and thither he went, +taking his family and cargo along with him. In New York he obtained a +large price for his bark, roots, and beans; in fact, when all were +disposed of, he found himself nearly twenty thousand dollars to the +good. With this to live upon, he determined to remain in the great +Republic of the North until such time as his own dear Peru might be +freed from the Spanish oppressor. + +Ten years was the period of his exile. At the end of that time the +Spanish-American provinces struck almost simultaneously for liberty; and +in the ten years' struggle that followed, not only Don Pablo, but Leon-- +now a young man--bore a conspicuous part. Both fought by the side of +Bolivar at the great battle of Junin, which crowned the patriot army +with victory. + +At the close of the War of Independence, Don Pablo was a general of +division, while Leon had reached the grade of a colonel. But as soon as +the fighting was over, both resigned their military rank, as they were +men who did not believe in soldiering as a _mere profession_. In fact, +they regarded it as an unbecoming profession in time of peace, and in +this view I quite agree with them. + +Don Pablo returned to his studies; but Leon organised an expedition of +_cascarilleros_, and returned to the Montana, where for many years he +employed himself in "bark-hunting." Through this he became one of the +richest of Peruvian "ricos." + +Guapo, who at this time did not look a year older than when first +introduced, was as tough and sinewy as ever, and was at the head of the +cascarilleros; and many a _coceada_ did Guapo afterwards enjoy with his +mountain friend the "vaquero" while passing backward and forward between +Cuzco and the Montana. + +Dona Isidora lived for a long period an ornament to her sex, and the +little Leona had _her_ day as the "belle of Cuzco." + +But Leon and Leona both got married at length; and were you to visit +Cuzco at the present time, you might see several little Leons and +Leonas, with round black eyes, and dark waving hair--all of them +descendants from our family of-- + +"Forest Exiles." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Forest Exiles, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOREST EXILES *** + +***** This file should be named 24814.txt or 24814.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/1/24814/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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