CHAPTER FIVE.
THE RIVER REACHED AT LAST.
We were not yet free of the mountains, for numerous spurs of the mightyAndes run eastward, between which the many streams proceeding from theirsnow-capped heights make their way towards the Amazon. Once more wewere compelled to ascend a steep height, and then to proceed along theridge for a considerable distance; then again we descended, to find atthe bottom a roaring torrent. This had to be crossed.
The huge trunk of a tree had been placed by the natives over the deeperpart, resting on the rocks on either side. The water hissed and bubbledround it, threatening every instant to carry it away. Isoro, however,urged us to cross without delay. He observed signs in the west, amongthe mountains, of a coming storm, he said, and should it break before wewere safe on the other side, we should be prevented from crossingaltogether. Still, as we looked at the frail bridge, John and I werevery unwilling to expose Ellen to the risk she must run. At length DonJose ordered the Indians to form a long rope of sipos, and to stretch itacross the stream, that it might assist to steady the bearers on theirpassage. This caused some delay. "Hasten! hasten!" cried Isoro. "Ihear a sound which tells me that the waters are coming down!"
Don Jose on this led the way. Arthur kept close to him. I followedwith True in my arms, for I had taken him up for fear of his beingcarried away by the current. Ellen's bearer same next. John walkedclose behind her, to render her assistance should it be required. Withone hand I grasped the long sipo, with the other I kept tight hold ofTrue. The rest had the advantage of being able to steady themselveswith their poles. Domingos assisted Maria. The water, even before wereached the trunk, came roaring and hissing down round our legs, and Ihad some difficulty in stemming the current. I was thankful when ourleader reached the trunk, and began his passage over it. I found it,however, very slippery with the spray which broke over it. I dared notlook back to see how it fared with Ellen. I heard her voice, however,as she cried out, "Do not be afraid, Harry; my bearer steps firmly, andI am looking up at the blue sky and the waving tops of the tall trees; Ido not feel any alarm." Still there was a wide extent of bubbling waterto be crossed beyond the end of the slippery trunk, and I could hear theloud roar of the waters which came down from the mountains through theravine. I saw Don Jose hastening on, and more than once he turned andbeckoned us to proceed more rapidly. The end of the bridge was reached.Arthur hesitated to leap into the boiling water. Don Jose turned roundand seized his hand and led him on. I followed. It seemed that everyinstant the depth of the water was increasing. I trembled for Ellen'ssafety, and yet could not venture to look back to ascertain how it wasfaring with her. I thought too of John, Maria, Domingos, and ourIndians. The danger for those who came last would be greatly increased.Had it not been for the sipo, I could scarcely have kept my footing.Now I was wading up to my middle, now climbing over a rock worn smoothby the never-resting waters. The water was here somewhat shallower. Ilooked round. Ellen's bearer was following with firm steps, and wasclose behind me. "On! on!" cried John. Our leader was already near theedge, and I hoped we should soon be in safety, when I heard Ellen uttera shriek of terror. I sprang on to the bank. Her bearer followed. Shehad not been alarmed on her own account; but now looking across thestream, I saw the bearers following closely on each other, pressingalong the bridge. From above the water, in a vast foaming volume, wascoming rushing down, roaring loudly. John turned round, and takingMaria's hand, assisted her up the bank. Domingos clambered after her.Our peons came close together behind. One man was still on the bridge,when the torrent, striking it with fearful force, lifted it off therock, and away it went wheeling downwards. The peon kept his footingfor an instant, then, as it began to turn over, he sprang off it towardsthe shore; but unable to disengage himself from his burden, he was bornedownwards amid the tossing waters. The Indians ran down the bank to tryand render him assistance. John and I followed, with Don Jose, whoseemed unusually agitated. Now we saw the man clutching hold of a rock;soon again he was torn off, and went floating downwards. Still hestruggled on bravely, making his way towards the shore. I expectedevery moment to see him give up the unequal contest, for the mightywaters seemed to have him in their grasp. Fortunately the bundle hecarried was large, and though heavy out of the water, was light in it,and instead of sinking, assisted to float him.
John and I continued to make our way along the banks with the rest. Wehad got some distance down, when we saw what appeared to be an eddy orbackwater in the river. Below it the stream rushed on with the sameimpetuosity as before. I called to John. "I think we may save him," Isaid; and signed to the Indians to cut some long sipos which hung downfrom the branches above us. Several flexible ones were speedily cut andfastened together. Both John and I were good swimmers. He secured oneto his waist, as did I, signing to the Indians to hold the other ends.Then we dashed into the stream, swimming out towards the strugglingIndian. In another moment he would have been carried by us. I reachedhim just as I was at the extreme end of the sipo. John seized his armdirectly afterwards, and together we towed him towards the bank, callingto the Indians to haul the sipo gently in. Soon reaching the bank, wedragged up our nearly drowned companion. Not till then did we discoverthat he was Isoro, who, it appeared, had taken the load of a sick bearerunable to carry it.
Isoro, as soon as he had recovered sufficiently to speak, thanked uswarmly for preserving his life. Don Jose, who had come up, also addedhis thanks. "I value him much," he observed, "and should have grieveddeeply had he lost his life."
We had little time for talking, however, for we had to hurry back towhere we had left our companions, as the storm which had been brewing inthe mountains now threatened to break over our heads. Our party,therefore, piling up their loads, made haste to erect some sheds similarto those we had already several times built. A quantity of the_sindicaspi_, or "wood that burns," was speedily cut, and fires werelighted, at which we dried our drenched clothes. Scarcely had ourpreparations been made, when the threatening storm burst over us, thewind howling and whistling through the trees, which waved to and fro,making a loud rustling sound; while every now and then we could hear thecrashing noise of some patriarch of the forest, as it sank beneath theblast. The rain came in torrents, and the river, surging and swelling,rapidly increased its breadth. We had indeed reason to be thankful thatwe had not delayed our crossing a moment longer. Our fires were soonput out, and water came rushing down on either side of us through theforest. We, however, had chosen a slightly elevated spot for our camp,which, though surrounded by water, had hitherto escaped destruction.The rain continuing to pour down in a perfect deluge, compelled us toremain in our camp. So secure, however, had the roofs been made, thatwe kept dry inside. Occasionally John, Arthur, and I ran into Ellen'shut to pay her a visit. We found her and Maria sitting very composedly,employing themselves with their work, which they produced from one ofthe bundles they had unpacked. Don Jose remained in his hut, attendedby Isoro. He was much more out of spirits than we had yet seen him.
"My young friends," he said, "I must soon bid you farewell. I hadresolved to accompany you till I could see you embarked on the river.We shall reach it, I hope, in three or four days at furthest, but Icannot be longer absent from my people in these troubled times. I hopethat you will soon overtake your father and family, who, from theaccounts I have received, intend to wait for you at the mouth of theriver, where it joins the Amazon. Though I must return, Isoro hasexpressed a wish to accompany you. You will find his assistance ofvalue, as he has been among the wild tribes you will encounter on yourpassage, and knows their habits and customs. They are very differentfrom the people you have hitherto met, and may give you much annoyance,unless cautiously dealt with."
We were very sorry to hear of Don Jose's intention of leaving us, as wehad hoped that he intended to accompany us till we could overtake ourfather, though we were greatly obliged to him for his proposal ofallowing Isoro to remain with us.
However, I must hurry on with an account of our journey. When we metwith no habitations on our way, we were compelled to build sheds in thedriest and most open spots we could find. At length, through an archedopening in the forest, the bright sheen of water caught our eyes, andhurrying on, we found ourselves standing on the bank of a stream, whichopened up to us a watery highway to the Atlantic.
Still, we were well aware that we had many dangers to encounter. Formany hundred leagues we could not hope to meet with Europeans, andalthough the natives among whom we had hitherto travelled had beenfriendly, we knew that numerous tribes existed along the banks of theAmazon or its tributaries, who might prove hostile to strangers. Ourchief anxiety, however, was about our father and mother. When we mightonce more meet, we could not tell. Still we felt sure that they wouldnot willingly proceed till we had overtaken them.
We had arrived at a part of the river at a distance from any nativevillage. We had therefore to depend on ourselves for the means ofmaking our intended voyage. We were prepared, however, to build canoesof sufficient size for the accommodation of our reduced party.Accordingly we set to work to erect huts of a more substantial characterthan those we had hitherto built, in which we might live in some degreeof comfort till the work was accomplished. With the assistance of ourbearers, in a few hours we had a good-sized hut of bamboos put up, andstrongly thatched with palm-leaves. One portion was walled in with adivision forming two apartments. The larger was devoted to theaccommodation of Ellen and her sable attendant. In the other, our goodswere stored; while the rest of us slung our hammocks in a large openverandah, which formed, indeed, the greater part of the building. Itwas completed before nightfall. In front, between us and the river, alarge fire was made up, which, fed by a peculiar kind of wood growingnear, kept alight for many hours without being replenished.
We were seated at our evening meal, when we heard footsteps rapidlyapproaching, and an Indian appeared and saluted Don Jose. He was astranger, and had evidently been travelling rapidly. Presenting apacket, he sank down on the ground with fatigue. A cup of _guayusa_ teasoon revived him. Don Jose meantime opened his packet, and hastily readthe contents.
"My young friends," he said, "I regret that I must immediately bid youfarewell. I cannot longer be absent from my people. I know not whatmay occur; but if their leaders are away, they will have no hope ofobtaining their freedom. Your father, however, was right to escape fromthe country. I am thankful to say that I can give you tidings of him.He has reached the mouth of the Napo in safety, and is there encamped,awaiting your arrival. Here, John, is a missive your father desires meto deliver to you."
Our friend handed my brother a note written hurriedly in pencil. It ranthus: "The messenger is about to leave, so I must be brief. We are allwell, and purpose waiting your arrival on this healthy spot, near themouth of the Napo. You will without difficulty find it, though we shallbe on the watch for all canoes coming down the stream. Pass two riverson your left hand, then a high bluff of red clay interspersed withstripes of orange, yellow, grey, and white. Proceed another league,till you pass, on a low point, a grove of bamboos. Rounding it, youwill find a clear spot on a low hill overlooking the stream. It isthere I have fixed our temporary abode."
"Oh, surely there will be no difficulty in finding them!" exclaimedEllen. "I wish that the canoes were ready--or could we not set off byland?"
"I fear that you would have to encounter many difficulties," observedDon Jose, "if you were to make the attempt. I must counsel patience,the most difficult of all virtues. I wish that I could accompany you--or, at all events, remain till the canoes are ready; but you will findIsoro a skilful builder, and I will direct him to procure the assistanceof some of the natives of this region, who will afterwards act as yourcrew, and navigate your canoes as far as they can venture down theriver. After that, Isoro will return with them, as I am afraid that Icould not induce him to remain away longer from me, though I wouldgladly let him accompany you if he would. Still I hope that you willhave no great difficulty in accomplishing the short remainder of yourvoyage till you find your father and the rest of your family."
John and I thanked Don Jose again and again for the aid he had affordedus, and the sacrifices he had made on our account.
"Do not speak of them, my young friends," he replied. "I owe much toyour father; and we are united by ties of which he, perhaps, will someday tell you."
We wished that our friend would explain himself more clearly, but heevidently did not intend to do so, and we therefore could not attempt topress the point. We sat up talking for some time before we turned intoour hammocks.
Our hut was romantically situated. Before us flowed the rapid river; oneither side rose the thick forest of palms and other trees, round thestems of which circled many a creeper, hanging in festoons from thebranches overhead. In the far distance towered the outer range of thoselofty mountains we were leaving, perhaps for ever; while round us werescattered the temporary wigwams which our attendants had put up forthemselves. The never-ceasing murmur of the waters tended to lull us tosleep in spite of the strange sounds which ever and anon came from theforest, caused by tree-toads and crickets; while occasionally owls,goat-suckers, and frogs joined in the concert with their hooting,wailing, and hoarse croaks. My faithful dog True had taken up his usualplace at night below my hammock. Suddenly I was awaked by hearing himutter a loud bark; and looking down, I saw by the fire, which was stillburning brightly, a huge alligator poking his snout into the verandah,having evidently climbed up the bank with the intention of making a mealoff the dog, or, perhaps, off one of the sleeping natives. True stoodbravely at bay, barking furiously, and yet refusing to r
etreat. Leapingfrom my hammock, I seized a log, and dashed it in the huge saurian'sface. All the party were speedily on foot. Isoro and Domingos camerushing forward with their long poles to attack the monster; while John,seizing his gun, fired at its head: The ball, however, glanced off itsscaly coat. The reptile, finding itself disappointed of its expectedfeast, and that the odds were against it, retreated, and finally fellover with a loud plash into the stream. The incident warned us of themidnight visitors we might expect, and of the necessity of keeping awatch when sleeping near the river's bank. The fire was made up afresh.We were all soon again asleep, with the exception of one of the men,who was directed by Don Jose to keep watch for the remainder of thenight.
The next morning our kind friend bade us farewell, and, accompanied bythe bearers, took his way through the forest to the Andes. We saw himgo with great regret. We remembered the dangers he would have toencounter, and we felt how probable it was that we should never againsee him. Our party now consisted of Ellen, Maria, John, Arthur and I,Domingos and Isoro. John and I had our rifles; and Domingos a brace oflong horse-pistols, which he took from his holsters when the mules weresent back; with a fair supply of ammunition. We had axes, and a fewother tools for building our canoe; a stock of provisions, which hadbeen carefully husbanded; and some bales of cotton and other articleswith which to repay the natives for their services, or to purchase food.Isoro was armed with a long bow and spear, and Arthur was anxious toprovide himself with similar weapons.
As soon as Don Jose had gone, Isoro set out according to his directionsto find some natives. We were still, it will be remembered, withinPeruvian territory; and although but slight communication was kept upwith the natives of the scattered villages, yet the Spaniards had forsome years past made their power felt, as the Incas had done in formerages, even in these remote districts. Isoro said he had therefore nofear of being ill-treated by any of the natives he might encounter.
As soon as breakfast was over, while John and Domingos remained at thehut, assisting Ellen and Maria to overhaul and re-arrange our goods,Arthur and I strolled out to try and shoot some birds. We had not gonefar when we heard, at a little distance off, some loud, shrill, yelpingcries. I was sure they were produced by birds, yet Arthur couldscarcely believe it. The noises came, it seemed, from above our heads.Looking up, we at length caught sight of several large birds, perched onthe higher branches above us, with enormous bills. We approachedcautiously, hiding ourselves underneath some wide palm-leaves, betweenwhich we could observe the noisy assemblage. The birds seemed to beshouting out "To-o-cano, to-o-cano," and it is on this account that theIndians give them the name from which we derive that of toucans. Onewas perched above the rest, and he kept bending his neck downwards, andlooking about in the most knowing way, as if to ascertain what sort ofcreatures we could be. The rest seemed to be employing themselves inpicking some fruit, every now and then throwing up their huge beaks asif to let it slip down their throats. As we were anxious to procuresome fresh food for dinner, I had been getting my gun ready as quietlyas possible, and having selected the bird nearest to me, I raised it tomy shoulder and fired. Down came the bird, fluttering among thebranches, and we ran forward to secure our prize. On examining it, wefound that its feet were like those of a parrot. It was of a blackcolour, with a gloss of green; about fifteen inches in length, with along tail and short wings; the feathers at the bottom of the back beingof a sulphur hue. The cheeks, throat, and fore part of the breast, wereof the same tint, while across the lower part of the breast was a broadcrimson bar; the under part being also crimson. The remainder of theflock having flown away, I was unable to obtain another shot. Thesebirds we afterwards saw in great numbers. Their large beaks give theman awkward appearance when flying, yet when climbing about the treesthey are evidently of great assistance, as also in picking fruit, orcatching the insects they find among the bark.
We went some distance before I could get another shot. I then killed agreen parrot, and soon after another. Arthur could scarcely believethat we should find them fit for eating. I was on the point of takingaim at a monkey which came peering out at us among the boughs, when hedrew back my arm.
"You surely will not kill that creature!" he exclaimed. "I could neverbring myself to eat it, if you do; and I am sure your sister would not."
I told him that monkeys form the principal food of many of the tribes inthe country.
"Oh, but then they are no better than cannibals," he answered.
"Wait a little till we are pressed for want of food," I said. "Rememberour stock of provisions is but small, and if we were to beover-particular, we should starve." The monkey, however, by hisintervention escaped.
We went on for some time, gradually entering a denser part of the forestthan we had yet reached. Sipos hung down from every bough, forming acurious tracery of living cordage above our heads, and more completelyuniting the tall trees than even the masts of a ship are by the rigging,so that an active midshipman, or a still more agile monkey--I hope theformer will pardon me for mentioning them together--could have nodifficulty in progressing high up from the ground for miles togetherthrough the forest. Strange air-plants swung suspended from thebranches, some like the crowns of huge pine-apples, others like parasolswith fringes, or Chinese umbrellas--indeed, of all shapes and hues;while climbing plants of the most diverse and ornamental foliagepossible wound their way upwards, and then formed graceful and elegantfestoons, yet further to adorn this mighty sylvan palace. Such a scene,though often witnessed, seemed fresh and beautiful as at first. As Iwished to get another shot or two, we crept slowly on, concealingourselves as much as possible, lest any birds perched on the boughsmight see us and fly away. There was little difficulty in doing soamongst the huge fern and palm-like foliage which surrounded us. In ashort time we heard ahead of us a strange chattering and rustling in thetrees, and moving cautiously on, we caught sight of a number of darkobjects moving about at a rapid rate among the sipos. Stealingcautiously forward, we discovered them to be monkeys at their gambols;and curious gambols they were too. They had white faces, with blackcoats and thin bodies and limbs, and still longer tails, which keptwhisking and twirling and whirling about in the most extraordinarystyle. Not for a moment were these tails of theirs at rest, except whenthey had hold of branches to allow their other limbs more freedom. Idid not suppose that such muscular power could have existed in ananimal's tail. They seemed to be playing each other all sorts ofcomical tricks. Now one would catch hold of a horizontal sipo, andswing vehemently backwards and forwards; now two or three would scrambleup a perpendicular one, and a fourth would catch hold of the tail of thelast and hang by it, whisking about his own tail meantime till it hadfound a branch of liana, when he would let go, and bring himself upagain by that wonderful member of his, and skip away to a distance fromhis playmate, who might attempt to retaliate. If one happened for aninstant to be sitting quietly on a sipo, or gently winging backwards andforwards, another was sure to come behind him and pull his tail, or givehim a twitch on the ear, and then throw himself off the sipo out of theother's reach, holding on, however, firmly enough by his long appendage.One big fellow came creeping up thus behind another, and gave him a slypinch on the neck. So funny was the face which the latter made as heturned round and lifted up his paw to give the other a box on the ear,that Arthur and I burst into fits of laughter. This startled the wholeflock, who peered about them, skipping here and there, chattering toeach other, as if to inquire the cause of the strange sounds which hadreached their ears. At length one, bolder than the rest, creeping near,caught sight of us, when back he went to communicate the intelligence tohis companions. A hurried consultation was evidently held by them, andthen more came to look down at us, keeping wisely in the upper branches.We tried to be silent; but so extraordinary were the grimaces they madewith their funny little white physiognomies, that we again burst intoshouts of laughter, in which True joining with a loud bark, offscampered the monkeys, whisking th
eir long tails, along the sipos andbranches, till they were hid from sight, although we could still heartheir chattering in the distance. I could not have had the heart tofire at such frolicsome creatures, even had we been more pressed forfood than was the case.
"I wish that we could get one of them to tame," exclaimed Arthur. "Itwould make a delightful pet for your sister, and a capital playmate forTrue. They would become great friends, depend on it. He sadly wants acompanion of his own amount of intellect, poor fellow."
"I doubt as to their having any intellect, and I don't think True wouldconsider himself complimented by having them compared to him," Ianswered, laughing, though a little piqued that the sense of myfavourite should be rated on an equality with that of a monkey. Wediscussed the matter as we went along. I was compelled to acknowledgeat last that though True had sense, he might not even have reason, onlyinstinct verging on it strongly developed.
"And what are those monkeys?" asked Arthur, who had not quite agreedwith me, and wished to change the subject.
"I have no doubt that they are what the French call `spider monkeys,'" Ianswered. "I found a description of them in my book, under the title ofAteles, or Coaita. The white-faced species is the _Ateles marginatus_.There are several species very similar in their appearance and habits."
I have more to say by-and-by about these spider monkeys.
We now found that it was time to begin our return to the river. As wewere walking on we caught sight of some object moving among the tallgrass. Arthur, True, and I followed at full speed. I had my gun readyto fire. It was a huge serpent. It seemed, however, more afraid of usthan we were of it. On it went like a dark stream running amidst theverdure, moving almost in a straight line, with only the slightestperceptible bends, and it soon disappeared among the thick underwood.From its size it would have been an awkward creature to be surprised byunarmed; and True, I suspect, would have had little chance of escaping.
Shortly afterwards, looking up among the branches, we saw overhead alarge flight of parrots. From their curious way of moving they seemedto be fighting in the air. Presently down one fell from among them,pitching into a soft clump of grass. I ran forward, expecting to findit dead; but scarcely had I taken it in my hand, than it revived, and Ihad no doubt it had been stunned by a blow on the head from one of itscompanions. It was of a bright green plumage, with a patch of scarletbeneath the wings. "I am sure your sister would like it for a pet,"exclaimed Arthur; "do let us take it to her!" The parrot, however,seemed in no way disposed to submit to captivity, but struggledviolently and bit at our fingers. I managed, however, to secure itsbeak, and we carried it in safety to the hut.
"Oh, what a beautiful little creature!" exclaimed Ellen as she saw it."I have been so longing to have some pets, and I am much obliged to youfor bringing it to me."
"I have tamed many birds," said Maria, "and I hope soon to make this onevery amiable and happy."
Domingos, however, declared that the bird could not be kept without acage. Some bamboos were growing at a short distance. He cut severalsmall ones, and in a short time had constructed a good-sized cage, withthe bars sufficiently close prevent the little stranger escaping. Hethen set to work to pluck the birds we had killed, and they were quicklyroasting, spitted between forked sticks, before the fire. While we wereengaged in preparing dinner we caught sight of several persons comingalong the banks of the river. Isoro led the way; six natives followed.They were clad in somewhat scanty garments--a sort of kilt of matting,ornamented with feathers, round their waists, their cheeks and bodypainted with red and yellow. They were, however, pleasant-looking men.They had quivers at their backs, and long tubes, which I soon found tobe blow-pipes, in their hands. True at first evidently did not approveof their presence, and went growling about, showing his teeth; but whenhe saw us treat them as friends, he became quiet, and went and lay downat the entrance to Ellen's room, eyeing them, however, as if not quitesatisfied about the matter.
Isoro introduced the tallest of the party, whose kilt was rather moreornamented than those of his companions, as their chief--Naro by name.He had agreed to build us a couple of canoes, of sufficient size toconvey us down the more dangerous parts of the river. After this wewere to proceed in one, while he and his men returned in the other. Wewere to repay him with a dozen yards of cloth, a couple of knives, somebeads, and other articles.
As soon as we had finished our roasted toucans and parrots, we set forthwith our new allies in search of suitable trees for the shells of theboats. We hunted about for some time before they could fix on one. Atlength they pointed out one about fifteen feet in circumference. Someof the bark being cut off. I saw that the wood was of a yellow colour,and of a soft nature, which could be easily worked. The Indians,however, shook their heads, declaring that though the wood was good fora canoe, the tree was too large to be cut down. Isoro, in answer, toldthem that if they could make a canoe out of it, he would undertake tofell it. He soon showed his countrymen that he would make his wordsgood, and wielding his sharp axe, he quickly cut a deep notch in thetree. Naro now seemed satisfied. While some of the party hewed at thetrunk, others climbed the neighbouring trees to cut away the festoons ofsipos and other creepers which might impede its fall. A road also hadto be cleared to the river for the distance of nearly a quarter of amile. All hands assisted in this work, and by evening we had madeconsiderable progress.
The Indians camped round us at night. One of them had broken hisblow-pipe, and was employed in taking it to pieces for the purpose ofmending it. I had thus an opportunity of seeing how it was made. Itwas about ten feet long, and composed of two separate lengths of wood,each of which was scooped out so as to form one-half of the tube. Theirtools appeared to be made of the teeth of some animal, which Iafterwards found were those of the paca. These two pieces thus hollowedout are fastened together by winding round them long flat slips of theclimbing palm-tree called the jacitara. The tube is then covered overwith black bees'-wax. A mouth-piece made of wood is fastened to oneend, which is broader than the other. From this it tapers away towardsthe muzzle. I was surprised to find how heavy the instrument was when Icame to try and shoot from one. It is called by a variety of names--bythe Spaniards, _zarabatana_; by some natives, the _samouran_; by others,the _tarbucan_; by the Portuguese, the _gravatana_. The arrows are madefrom thin strips of the hard rind of the leaf-stalks of palms, and arescraped at the end till they become as sharp as needles. Round thebutt-end is wound a little mass from the silk-cotton tree, which exactlyfits into the bore of the blow-pipe. The quivers were very neatlyformed of the plaited strips of a plant growing wild, from whicharrow-root is made. The upper part consisted of a rim of the red woodof the japura, highly polished; and it was secured over the shoulder bya belt ornamented with coloured fringes and tassels of cotton. Weafterwards saw blow-pipes formed in a different way, two stems of smallpalms being selected, of different sizes, the smaller exactly to fitinside the larger. Thus any curve existing in the one is counteractedby that of the other. The arrows are tipped with the far-famed wouralipoison, which quickly kills any animal they wound.
Next morning we returned to the tree, and worked away as before. Arthurand I undertook to cut down some smaller trees, to serve as rollers onwhich to drag the huge trunk to the side of the river, where it was tobe hollowed out. We had, however, to supply ourselves with food, andtwo of our new friends prepared to go in search of game with theirblow-pipes. Arthur and I begged to accompany them; but they made signsthat we must not fire off our guns, as we should quickly put the game toflight, and that we must keep at a distance behind them.
"I wonder what they are going to shoot," asked Arthur.
"We shall soon see," I answered, as we followed our friends.
The noise of our operations in the forest had driven away most of itsusual inhabitants from the neighbourhood. We therefore had to go somedistance before we came in sight of any game. We kept, as we hadpromised, a little behind our frien
ds. Suddenly one of them stopped,and raising his blow-pipe, a sound like that from a large pop-gun washeard, and we saw a bird, pierced by an arrow, fluttering among thebranches. Gradually its wings ceased to move, and down fell a parrot.Advancing a little further, the Indian made us a sign to stop; andlooking up among the branches, we caught sight of a troop of the samecurious little monkeys with long tails which we had seen the day before.They kept frisking about, now climbing up the sipos, now throwingthemselves down, hanging by their tails, and swinging backwards andforwards. Presently one of the natives lifted his blow-pipe, from whichsped an arrow, piercing one of the poor little creatures. It hung foran instant by its tail round a branch, and then fell with a crash amongthe thick leaves. The others kept jumping about, apparently not awareof what had happened to their companion. Thus three or more werebrought down before the rest discovered the enemy in theirneighbourhood. They then all went off at a rapid rate, swingingthemselves from branch to branch, but stopped again at a short distanceto watch us.
"I would give anything to have one of those active little fellowsalive!" exclaimed Arthur. "Don't you think, Harry, that we could makethe Indians understand what we want?"
"We will try, at all events," I answered. "But I beg that you won'tlaugh at my pantomime."
Galling to the Indians, I took one of their arrows, and pointing ittowards the monkeys, which were still to be seen a little way before usamong the trees, eyeing us curiously, I shook my head violently, to showthat I did not want it killed. Then I ran forward, and pretended tocatch one, and to lead it along. "Now, Arthur, you must act themonkey," I exclaimed. On this he began frisking about, putting out hishand behind to represent a tail, while I pretended to be soothing him bystroking him on the head and back, and thus inducing him to accompanyme.
The Indians watched us attentively, and then nodding their beads, beganto talk together. They soon seemed to be agreed as to what we wanted,and signing to us to remain quiet, one of them again crept cautiouslytowards the monkeys, still frisking about within sight, while the othersat down with Arthur and me. We eagerly watched the Indian. He firstselected an arrow, the point of which he scraped slightly and wetted.Presently he placed his blow-pipe within the loop of a sipo.
"Why, he's going to kill one of the poor creatures after all!" exclaimedArthur.
"It looks very like it," I answered. "But we shall see."
The Indian waited for a few seconds, and then out flew his tiny dartwith a loud pop. One of the monkeys was hit. "Oh dear! oh dear!" criedArthur. "They could not have understood us." The monkey had beenstruck when hanging to one of the lower branches; it fell before it hadtime to save itself with its long tail, and the Indian instantlyspringing forward, caught it, and pulled out the dart. He then tooksomething out of the bag hanging at his waist, and put it into itsmouth, which he kept closed to prevent it from spluttering it out. Thepoor creature seemed so stunned or bewildered by its fall, and atfinding itself suddenly in the grasp of a strange being twenty times itsown size, that it made no resistance. The Indian brought it to us inhis arms, much as a nurse carries a baby, and showed us that it was notmuch the worse for its wound. As we went along we observed that itseyes, which were at first dim, had quickly recovered their brightness,while its tail began to whisk about and coil itself round the native'sarm. We were at a loss to account for the wonderful way in which it hadso speedily recovered; nor did the Indians seem disposed to tell ustheir secret.
"I should so like to carry the little creature, it seems already so tameand gentle," said Arthur.
"You had better not take it from the Indian, or it may give you an uglybite, and be off and up a tree in a twinkling," I answered. "It has nocause to love us as yet, at all events."
Arthur still insisting that he could carry the monkey, asked the Indianto let him have it. The native shook his head, and signified that themonkey would to a certainty escape if he did. At last, however, he andhis companion stopped, and fastened the creature's tail tightly to itsback, then they wound a quantity of fibre round its front paws, andfinally put a muzzle over its mouth. "There; you may manage to carryhim now," they seemed to say. "But take care, he may slip out of hisbonds even yet, if you do not hold him fast."
The monkey glanced up at the countenance of Arthur, who looked downkindly at the creature, and carried it gently so as not to hurt it.
"I should like to give it a name," he said; "something appropriate."
"We will consult Ellen on that important matter," I answered. "When shesees how active it is, I think she will call it Nimble."
"Oh yes; that would be a capital name. Do let us call it Nimble," heexclaimed.
"You and Ellen shall choose its name, and I am sure that John will agreeto whatever you decide," I replied.
This made Arthur perfectly contented, and he walked along stroking themonkey and talking gently to it, till the animal evidently began to feelconfidence in him, and lay perfectly quiet in his arms.
The Indians did not as yet appear satisfied with the amount of game theyhad killed, and were on the look-out for more. I kept my gun inreadiness for a shot. "Pray, Harry, do not kill another spider monkey,"said Arthur; "it would make Nimble so unhappy, I am sure." I promisedthat I would not; indeed, I had not the heart to wish even to shoot oneof the merry little creatures.
We soon afterwards, however, came in sight of several much largermonkeys, with stouter limbs, but excessively active, and furnished withlong, strong, flexible tails. I recognised them as the species calledby the Portuguese _Macaco barrigudo_, or the big-bellied monkey. TheIndians shot one of them with their blow-pipes, the rest wisely swingingthemselves off. The creature had a black and wrinkled face, with a lowforehead and projecting eyebrows. The body was upwards of two feet inlength, and the tail not much less. As the Indians held him up, Arthurand I agreed that he looked exactly like an old negro.
By the evening we had as many birds and monkeys as we could carry.Arthur offered to carry some of the birds in addition to Nimble,declaring that he could not bring himself to eat our four-handed game."And that negro-looking old fellow, I would starve rather than touchhim!" he exclaimed. "And as for Domingos, I should think him a cannibalif he were to eat him." Arthur, as we went along, kept trying toprevent his little charge from seeing its dead companions. "I am surethat it would make him unhappy," he observed; "for how can he tell thathe is not going to be treated in the same way!"
So like was one part of the forest to another, that I had no idea wewere near our huts when we came in sight of them True heard usapproaching and came bounding forth to meet us, leaping up first to lickmy hands and then sniffing up at poor little Nimble, who trembled atseeing him, and after vainly endeavouring to escape, clung tightly toArthur for protection. "Do call off True; there's a good fellow!"exclaimed Arthur. "He will frighten poor little Nimble to death; butwhen they are better acquainted they will become very good friends, Idare say." I called True to me, and presently Ellen and Maria camerunning out of the hut towards us. Ellen was greatly pleased withNimble, and thanked Arthur very much for having brought him. We carriedNimble into the hut, and Domingos found a leathern strap to fasten roundhis waist, by which he was secured to one of the beams in the roof.Here he could run from side to side of the hut, out of the reach ofTrue. He kept looking down on us somewhat scared at first at his novelposition, but in a short time took some nuts and fruit readily fromArthur's hand, and after examining and cautiously tasting them, toascertain that they suited his palate, ate a hearty meal.
Ellen told us that she and Maria had been greatly alarmed during ourabsence by the appearance of a large creature--from their account a pumaor a jaguar--which had come close to the hut. True had behaved nobly instanding on the defensive, while they had screamed and waved sticks totry to frighten it off. For some time, however, they were afraid thatit would attack them, but at last it turned tail and retreated into theforest.
Domingos and our Indian friends lost no time in prepari
ng the game whichwe had killed. Arthur and I watched them, when Domingos, without at allrecognising the likeness which Arthur and I had discovered in the_macaco barrigudo_ to himself, began without ceremony to skin it, and ina short time had it spitted and roasting before the fire. We had formeda rough table, and the first article of food which Domingos placed on itwas a portion of the big monkey on a plantain leaf.
"Ah!" he said, "I have reserved this for you; for the meat is superiorto that of either the other monkeys or the birds. Just try it, and youwill agree with me."
Had he not talked about the monkey, probably no one would have objectedto the meat, which did look very nice; but Ellen and Arthur both beggedto have some of the birds, with the addition of some roasted plantainsand farinha cakes. We made a very substantial meal, John and I agreeingthat the big _macaco_ was very nice food. Domingos thought so also, ashe had claimed a joint as his own share.
I was awoke at night by hearing a strange rushing noise round my head,and raising it above the hammock I caught sight of numberless darkcreatures with huge wings which kept sweeping round and round here andthere through the verandah. Presently one of them pitched on the clewof my hammock. There was sufficient light from the bright stars to seeits shape, and I beheld a creature with large ears standing out from thesides and top of its head, a spear-shaped appendage on the tip of itsnose, while a pair of glittering black eyes and a grinning mouth gave itthe appearance of a little imp. Presently it expanded its large wingsand floated towards my head. I could stand this no longer, and singingout, dealt it a blow with my palm which sent it flying away. The cryawoke my companions, who jumped out of their hammocks, wondering whatwas the matter. We were quickly engaged in driving out the intruders,which we now discovered to be vampire bats. "Hillo!" cried Arthur,"what is the matter with my foot? There is blood flowing from it!" Wefound that one of the creatures had been sucking his too. John bound itup, and in a short time tranquillity was restored, and we were all soonin our hammocks. Hideous as these creatures appear, they are harmless,as the puncture they make is but slight, and the wound quickly heals.They showed their sense by selecting our hut for their night quarters,as they there found themselves more secure from the beasts which prey onthem than in their abodes in the forest.
In the morning we examined several we had knocked down. They measuredtwenty-eight inches across the wings, which were of a leatheryconsistency, the bodies being covered with grey hair. We found theirstomachs filled with the pulp and seeds of fruits, with the remains of afew insects only.
Our new friend Nimble soon became reconciled to his lot. Though he tookfood readily enough from Arthur, and by degrees let Ellen and Mariastroke his back, when any one else came near him he clambered up as highas he could reach into the roof. He soon discovered that True could notclimb up to his perch, and in a short time he would swing himself off byhis tail within a foot or two of the dog's nose, stretching out his pawsas if he were going to catch him by the ear, taking good care to beready to spring again far out of his reach should True show theslightest signs of leaping up.
"It won't be long before we see Master Nimble riding on True's back, andusing his tail as a whip," said Arthur, who had been watching the twoanimals. He was right; and in a few days Nimble and True became verygood friends.
Our boat-building proceeded well. A log of twenty feet in length havingbeen cut off and placed on the rollers, we secured a number of toughlianas to it, and using them as traces, dragged it down to the river.We could, however, move it but slowly, and two whole days were thusconsumed. The upper side being smoothed off, a slit was made down thewhole length, which was opened slowly by wedges. Having cleared out aconsiderable portion of the inside, it was turned over and raised ontrestles. Beneath it a fire was made along the whole length. Otherpieces of hard wood were gradually driven in with wedges to increase theopening, the larger ones being in the centre, where the width was to bethe greatest. In about eight hours the work was thus far completed.The bow and tern were made of hewn planks in a circular form, fastenedwith wooden pins. A plank on each side was next secured, and benchesfixed in. The seams were caulked with gum collected from trees growingnear, mixed with resin, which exuded from the trunks of others. We thusconstructed a vessel, of sufficient size to make a voyage of upwards ofone thousand miles down the mighty river, solely of materials found inthe wilderness. Paddles were also quickly formed by the Indians of thetough wood of another tree, which they split into boards. They thenwove some mats for sails, lianas of different thicknesses serving ascordage.
After this our native friends selected another tree, from which theyproposed to form the second canoe. This was to be smaller, that theymight be able to paddle it up against the stream. It was built in thesame way as the first, but without mast or sails.
On the Banks of the Amazon Page 5