The Forest Exiles: The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

by Mayne Reid

  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 theydid, choosing an open place on the shore. It was a very pretty spot,and they could see that the woods in the background were comparativelyopen, as though there were some meadows or prairies between. Theseopenings, however, had been caused by fire. There had been a growth ofcane. It had been burned off and as yet was not grown up again, thoughthe young reeds were making their appearance like a field of greenwheat. Some places, and especially near the river, the ground was stillbare. This change in the landscape was quite agreeable to ourtravellers; so much so, that they resolved to exercise their limbs bytaking a short stroll; and, having finished their late dinner they setout. They all went together, leaving the balza and camp to take care ofthemselves.

  After walking a few hundred yards their ears were assailed by a confusednoise, as if all the animals in the forest had met and were holding a_conversazione_. Some low bushes prevented them from seeing what itmeant, but on pushing their way through, they saw whence and from whatsort of creatures the noise proceeded.

  Standing out in the open ground was a large and tall juvia-tree. Itsspreading branches were loaded with great globes as big as human heads--each one, of course, full of delicious nuts. These were now ripe, andsome of them had already fallen to the ground.

  Upon the ground an odd scene presented itself to the eyes of ourtravellers. Between birds and animals assembled there, there were notless 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 pacaswere creatures a little larger than hares, and not unlike them, exceptthat their ears were shorter. They were whitish on the under parts, butabove were of a dark brown colour, with rows of white spots along eachside. They had whiskers like the cat, consisting of long whitebristles; 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 beingspotted, they are of a nearly uniform dark colour mixed with reddishbrown. Both pacas and agoutis are found in most parts of tropicalAmerica. There are several species of each, and with the chinchillasand viscachas already described, they occupy the place in those regionsthat the hares and rabbits do in northern climates. Indeed, Europeansettlers usually know them by the names of hare or rabbit, and hunt themin the same way. The flesh of most species is very good eating, andthey are therefore much sought after both by the natives and colonists.Along with these, near the juvia-tree, were several capivaras, alreadynoticed. But still more singular creatures on the ground were themonkeys. Of these there were different kinds; but that which first drewthe attention of our party was the great Capuchin monkey (_Brachyuruschiropotes_). This creature is not less than three feet in height andof 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 livesamong the branches. The most striking peculiarities of the Capuchin areits head and face. In these it bears a stronger resemblance to thehuman being than any other monkey in America. The top of its head iscovered with a crop of coarse hair, that lies somewhat after the fashionof human hair; but, what most contributes to the human expression is alarge full beard and whiskers reaching down to the breast, and arrangedexactly after the fashion of the huge beards worn by Orientals and someFrenchmen. There were only two of these Capuchins on the ground--a maleand female, for this species does not associate in bands. The femaleone was easily distinguished by her smaller size, and her beard wasconsiderably less than that of the male. The beards seemed to beobjects of special attention with both--especially the male, as everynow and then he was observed to stroke it down with his hand, just as adandy may be seen doing with his moustache or his well-brushed whiskers.

  Another peculiar habit of the Capuchins was noticed. There was a littlepool of water close by. Every now and then they ran to this pool andtook a drink from it. But in drinking they did not apply their lips tothe pool or lap like a dog. No; they lifted the water in the hollow oftheir hands--hence their specific name of _chiropotes_, or"hand-drinking monkeys." They raised the water to their lips with greatcare, taking pains not to let a drop of it fall on their preciousbeards. From this habit of going so often to quench their thirst, theCapuchin monkeys have in some parts got the name of "hard-drinkingmonkeys."

  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 downwardnear the points, showed that, like them too, they possessed prehensilepower in that member. Such was the fact, for they were "howlingmonkeys;" and some species of these can use the tail almost as adroitlyas the "ateles" themselves. Those that our travellers saw were the"guaribas," nearly black in colour, but with their hands covered withyellow hair, whence their name among the naturalists of "yellow-handedhowler" (_Stentor flavimanus_). They were seated in a ring when firstobserved, and one--apparently the chief of the band--was haranguing therest; but so rapid were his articulations, and so changeable the tonesof his voice, that any one would have thought the whole party werechattering together. This, in effect, did occur at intervals, and thenyou might have heard them to the distance of more than a mile. Thesecreatures are enabled to produce this vast volume of voice inconsequence of a hollow bony structure at the root of the tongue, whichacts as a drum, and which gives them the appearance of a swelling, orgoitre, in the throat. This is common to all the howling monkeys aswell as the guaribas.

  Besides the howlers there were other species--there were tamarins, andouistitis, and the black coaitas of the genus "ateles," all assembledaround the juvia-tree. There were parrots, and macaws, and othernut-eating birds. High above in the air soared the great eagle watchinghis opportunity to swoop down on the pacas or agoutis, his natural prey.It was altogether a singular assemblage of wild animals--a zoologicalgarden of the wilderness.

  Our party, concealed by bushes, looked on for some time. They noticedthat not one of all the living things was _under_ the tree. On thecontrary, they formed--monkeys, cavies, parrots, and all--a sort of ringaround it, but at such a distance that none of the brandies were abovethem! Why was this? Guapo knew the reason well, and before leavingtheir place of observation the others had an explanation of it.

  While they stood gazing one of the great globes was seen to fall fromthe tree above. The loud report as it struck the earth could have beenheard a long way off. It caused the whole assemblage of livingcreatures to start. The macaws flapped their wings, the monkeys ranoutward and then stopped, and a simultaneous cry from the voices of bothbirds and beasts echoed on all sides; and then there was a generalchattering and screaming, as though the fall of the great pericarp hadgiven pleasure to all parties.

  It was very evident from this circumstance why both beasts and birdskept so far out from the tree. One of these fruits coming down like anine-pound shot would have crushed any of them to atoms. Indeed, soheavy are they, that one of them falling from a height of fifty or sixtyfeet will dash out the brains of a man; and the Indians who gather themgo under the trees with great wooden helmets that cover both the headand shoulders! It would be no boy's play to "go a nutting" in a wood ofjuvia-trees.

  But how did the monkeys and birds get at the nuts? Neither of thesecould break open the outer shell. This is full half an inch thick, andso hard that it can scarcely be cut with a saw. How could eithermonkeys 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 theirastonishment they obs
erved that neither the monkeys nor the birds hadanything to do with the opening of the shells. That was entirely thework of the rodent animals, the pacas, cavies, and agoutis. These withtheir fine cutting teeth laid open the thick pericarps, and whenever onewas seen to have succeeded, and the triangular nuts were scattered uponthe ground, then there was a general rush, and macaws, parrots, andmonkeys scrambled for a share. The monkeys, however, did their part ofthe 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 thewhile exhibiting symptoms of great terror. They would then lift it intheir hands, several of them together, and dash it repeatedly upon astone. Sometimes, when the shell was not a strong one, they succeededin breaking it in this way; but oftener they were not able, and then itwas left to the rodent animals, who were watched at their operations,and usually robbed of the fruits of their labour. Such were thesingular incidents witnessed at this festival of juvia-nuts.

  But the scene was brought to a sudden termination. A cry was heard thatrose far above all the other noises--a cry more terrible than thescreams of the parrots, or the shrieks of the howling monkeys--it wasthe cry of the jaguar! It came from a piece of woods close to thejuvia-tree, and the branches were heard to crackle as the dreadedutterer advanced.

  In a moment the ground was cleared of every creature. Even the wingedbirds had flew up from the spot, and perched upon the branches; thecavies took to the water; the pacas and agouties to their burrows; andthe monkeys to the tops of the adjacent trees; and nothing remained onthe ground but the empty shells of the juvias.

  Our party did not stay to notice the change. They, too, had been warnedby the roar of the tiger, and hastily leaving the spot, returned totheir place of encampment. On reaching it, they kindled a large circleof fire to keep them in safety during the night. They saw no more ofthe jaguar, although at intervals through the midnight hours, they wereawakened by his loud and savage cry, resounding through the openings ofthe forest.