As there was still some daylight remaining, John took his gun to kill
some parrots or other birds which might prove more palatable food than
the peccary flesh.
"Take care that you do not lose yourself again," I could not help saying
as he was starting.
"Do not mock me, Harry," he answered. "I wish to gain experience, and
depend on it I shall be careful to take the bearings of the camp, so as
easily to find my way back to it. I do not intend to go many hundred
yards off."
Arthur and I were in the meantime engaged in trying to tame Master Toby
and the umbrella-bird, which we called Niger. Both seemed tolerably
reconciled to captivity. Ellen's little pet parrot, Poll, kept casting
suspicious glances at its feathered companion, not satisfied with the
appearance of the curious-headed stranger, while Nimble watched every
movement of his cousin Toby.
After assisting Ellen to feed her pets, Arthur and I agreed to go out in
search of John, taking Duppo with us as a guide. We had not gone far
when we saw him coming limping towards us. We were afraid that he had
hurt his foot. "What is the matter?" I asked, when we met.
"That is more than I can tell," he answered. "I have been for some time
past feeling a curious itching sensation in my feet, and now I can
scarcely bear to put them to the ground."
We helped him along to the camp, when, sitting down on a log, he took
off his boots. We examined his feet, and found a few small blue spots
about them.
"I suspect, Senor John, I know what it is," said Maria, who saw us.
"Some chegoes have got into your feet, and if they are not taken out
quickly they will cause you a great deal of suffering."
"But I can see nothing to take out," said John, looking at his feet.
"To be sure not," answered Maria, "because they have hidden themselves
away under the skin. Let me see what I can do. My mother was famous
for taking out chegoes, and she showed me the way she managed."
Maria, running into the hut, returned with a large needle. "Now, sit
quiet, Senor John, and do not cry out, and I will soon cure you."
Maria sat down, and taking John's foot on her knee, instantly began to
work away with as much skill as the most experienced surgeon. We all
stood by watching her. After a little time she produced between her
finger and thumb a creature considerably smaller than an ordinary flea,
which she had taken out alive and uninjured. Giving it a squeeze, she
threw it to the ground with an expression of anger at its having dared
to molest her young master; and thus in a very short time she had
extracted three or four insects from each of his feet. We had meantime
begun to feel something uncomfortable in ours, and on Maria's examining
them, we found that a chego had taken possession of each of our big
toes. The chego is a black little creature, which makes its way quietly
under the skin, where, having got to a sufficient depth, it lays its
eggs, and unless removed immediately, causes annoying and dangerous
ulcers. Ours were not there when we started to look for John, and by
this time they had worked their way completely out of sight. After that
we carefully examined our legs and feet every night before going to bed,
as during the time we were asleep they would have made themselves
completely at home in our flesh, with house, nursery, and children to
boot.
Next morning, our feet being once more in good order, we put on thick
socks, and our alpargates over them, and John and I with our guns,
Arthur with his bow and spear, accompanied by True, and led by Duppo,
took our way through the forest. I kept True close to me; for after the
experience we had had, I was afraid of his encountering a jaguar, or
peccary, or boa, knowing, however formidable the creature might be, he
to a certainty would attack it. I need not again describe the forest
scenery. After going on for some time we stopped to lunch, when Arthur,
who was at a little distance, called out to me. "Come here, Harry," he
said, "and look at this curious wooden caterpillar." On joining him, I
found on a leaf the head of a caterpillar projecting out of a wooden
case fully two inches long. It was secured to the leaf by several
silken lines. I took it up and examined it. There could be no doubt
that the case was the work of art, and not a natural growth, and that it
was formed of small pieces of stick fastened together with fine silken
threads. Inside this case the creature can live secure from its enemies
while feeding and growing. We afterwards found several of the same
description. Another sort had made itself a bag of leaves open at both
ends, the inside being lined with a thick web. It put us in mind of the
caddis worms which we had seen in ponds in England.
We took care when going on always to keep in sight of each other.
Arthur and I were together, and Duppo a little ahead. "Hark!" exclaimed
Arthur, "some one is singing in the distance." I listened, and felt
sure that some native, who had climbed up a tree not far off to get
fruit, was amusing himself by singing. John and Duppo stopped also,
attracted by the same sounds. We looked about in every direction, but
could see no one. Now the tones changed somewhat, and became more like
those of a flageolet, very sweet, and we expected to hear it break into
a curious native air, when presently it stopped, and instead of the
flute-like notes, some clicking, unmusical sounds like the piping of a
barrel-organ out of wind and tune reached our ears. Not till then had
we supposed that the songster was a bird. Again it struck up in exactly
the same way as before. Though we all four looked about in the
direction whence the notes came, the mysterious songster could not be
discovered. Duppo was evidently telling us a long story about it, but
what he said we could not comprehend. I afterwards found that the bird
is called by the Portuguese the realejo, or organ-bird (_Cyphorhinus
cantans_). It is the chief songster of the Amazonian forests. The
natives hold it in great respect, and Duppo seemed very unwilling to go
on while the bird continued its notes.
At length we reached the village, and were received in a friendly way by
our young guide's mother. Oria also seemed very glad to see us, and the
little fat child whom Arthur called Diogenes, because he had first seen
him seated in a tub, put out his hands to welcome us, in no way alarmed
at what must have appeared to him our extraordinary appearance. Our
hostess appeared somewhat anxious, and she had good cause to be so, for
no news had been received of the war-party. Duppo explained what we had
come for. She replied that she was afraid all the canoes had been
carried off, though it was possible a small one might have been
overlooked further up the stream, and, if such were the case, she would
do her best to persuade the owner to sell it to us.
We wanted to start off immediately, but she insisted on our partaking of
some food, which she and Oria set to work to prepare.
As we were anxious to know whether a canoe could be procured, we spent
little time over our repast, and again set off along the bank of the
igarape. We inquired at each of the huts we passed about a canoe, but
Duppo invariably shook his head, to signify that he could not hear of
one. Still we went on, searching in every spot where he thought a canoe
might be concealed. After some time, finding a tree bending almost
horizontally over the water, we climbed along it for some way, that we
might get a better view up and down the channel. Arthur was the
outermost of the party. "Why, what can that be?" he exclaimed. "See
there!" and he pointed up the canal. There, bending over the trunk of a
large tree, which hung much in the same manner as the one we were on, I
saw a huge jaguar. Its claws seemed ready for immediate action. Its
eyes were evidently fixed on the surface of the water.
"It is fifty yards off. It is looking out for a cow-fish, as was the
one we saw the other day," whispered Arthur.
We told John, who was coming along the trunk, what we had seen.
"We will let it catch the cow-fish first, then, and perhaps we may kill
both creatures," he observed.
While he was speaking, the creature darted out one of its huge paws, and
drew it back again with a fish hanging to it. Instantly the fish was
torn to pieces and transferred to its jaws. We waited till the jaguar
had begun to watch for another, and then crawling along the tree, made
our way towards it. John and I got our guns ready, hoping to kill the
beast before it had discovered us. Just as we got near, however, it
having caught another fish in the meantime, its eyes fell on us. Rising
to its feet, it stood for a moment as if doubtful whether or not it
should attack us. I lifted my rifle to fire, but at that moment the
animal gave a bound and darted off through the thick foliage, amid which
it was hid from sight. We looked about, expecting to see it returning,
but it had probably satisfied itself that we were too formidable enemies
to attack. We found some of the fish it had been eating on the trunk of
the tree, and the remains of several others near it, which showed that
it had been successful in its sport.
While searching round the tree Duppo gave a shout of satisfaction, and
hastening up to him, we found a small canoe hid away under a thick bush.
He soon discovered also two pairs of paddles, and made us understand
that we were welcome to the canoe. It was, however, so small that it
would barely carry all the party. It would certainly not have done so
with safety, except in the very smoothest water. We launched it, and
John and Arthur, using great caution, got in. One of the paddles had
been left behind. Duppo ran back to get it. We saw him eagerly
glancing down an open glade which extended some distance into the
forest. Suddenly he turned round, his countenance exhibiting terror,
and stepping into the stern of the canoe, made signs to us to shove off
and paddle away. He also began paddling with all his might. We
followed his example without stopping to inquire the cause of his alarm.
We had got to some distance, when I happened to look round. I saw that
Duppo was doing the same. At that moment several figures appeared on
the bank near the spot we had left. They were savages, with their
bodies painted and decked with feathers. Bows were in their hands.
They had apparently only that instant discovered us. The next a flight
of arrows came whizzing after the canoe. They fell short, however, and
we redoubled our efforts to urge it forward. Still, deep in the water
as it was, we could scarcely hope to get beyond their reach.
"Majeronas! Majeronas!" shouted Duppo, labouring away with his paddle.
"On, boys, on!" cried John. "We must not allow them to come up with us.
Active as they are, the forest is thick, and we may be able to get
along the water faster than they can make their way among the trees."
Disappointed at finding that we were already beyond their reach, the
savages uttered piercing shrieks and cries to intimidate us. The water
bubbled and hissed as we drove our little canoe through it, coming
frequently over the bows. Still on we went. I could not, however, help
every now and then looking round, expecting to see the savages on the
bank neat us. Their shouts had ceased.
"I am afraid our friends have been defeated," observed Arthur; "and
their enemies have come to attack the village."
"If so, we must defend it," said John. "They may possibly stand in awe
of our firearms. We must, however, try to get to the village before
they reach it, to warn the inhabitants."
"But there are only old men, boys, and women to defend it," said Arthur.
"Could we not try to come to terms with their enemies?"
"I am afraid the Majeronas, if they have been victorious, are not likely
to listen to anything we have to say," said John. "We must show them
our rifles. They will understand that argument better than anything
else."
All this time we were paddling along as at first. Before us was a
narrow part of the igarape, and I fully expected every instant to see
the savages appear on the bank. Still, we had made considerable way,
and it was possible that we had kept ahead of them. I said nothing,
however, lest it might discourage my companions.
We were nearing the dreaded point. I saw that Duppo was keeping the
canoe over to the opposite side.
"Would it not be better to get our guns ready to fire?" I said to John.
"No, no," he answered. "Keep paddling away. There is no honour nor
advantage to be gained by fighting. If we reach the village, we shall
meet the foe on better terms."
It was anxious work. We could not tell whether the next moment might
not be our last. Then what would become of poor dear Ellen? We knew
that Domingos and Maria would do their best. Still, how could they
escape alone?
"Now," said John, "we must dash by that point as fast as we can! Never
mind if we ship a little water. We must not let the savages kill us if
we can help it."
The point was reached. I expected to see a party of the Majeronas start
up from among the bushes. On we went. I held my breath as I paddled
away. The point was passed. No savages appeared.
"Hurrah!" cried Arthur, who was seated in the bows. "There is the
village!"
In three minutes more we were on shore. Duppo set off running, shouting
at the top of his voice. The boys collected round him as he went, but
instantly dispersed to their huts. Before he was out of sight they had
again collected, some with bows and arrows, others with _sumpitans_.
Several old men appeared also, armed with larger weapons of the same
description. Altogether, fully fifty men and boys were collected. We
came to the conclusion that the enemy had hoped to surprise the village,
and were approaching for that object when Duppo had discovered them.
John advised that a breastwork should be thrown up, extending from the
igarape across the path the Majeronas were likely to come by. After
some time, our friends seemed to comprehend what we wanted. Some
timbers for building a new hut were fortunately at hand. We drove
several into the soft earth to form a palisade. The natives, on seeing
us do this, understood what we wanted, and immediately the whole
community were busy at work, bringing up posts, and placing them as we
directed. They even pulled down three or four huts which stood near,
the materials of which were suited to our purpose. The women worked
away as well as the men; and thus, with so many willing hands, in a
short time we had a fortification erected, which, though not very
strong, was sufficiently so to resist the attack of a party of naked
savages. We encouraged them by explaining that our guns might do good
service in their defence. By degrees we had formed a complete
half-circle, the ends resting on the igarape.
As there still appeared to be time, we thought it better to fortify the
water side also. The people seemed clearly to understand our object.
The evening was now drawing on. I was afraid that Ellen might become
anxious at our non-appearance. I saw that something was on Arthur's
mind. He came up to me.
"Harry," he said, "I do not wish to alarm you unnecessarily, but it has
just occurred to me that the savages may have made a circuit, and found
their way to our camp. Would it not be wise to go there in the canoe;
you and Duppo, for instance, and leave John and I to assist these
people?"
"Oh no! I cannot desert John," I answered. "But what a dreadful
thought! No; you must go, Arthur, and take them off in the canoe; or,
as the canoe cannot carry you all, load the raft, and tow it out into
the river. The risk is great, but anything will be better than falling
into the hands of the savages."
"I will do as you wish," said Arthur; "but I do not like running away
from the post of the chief danger."
"Why, Arthur, you see you could do but little with your bow," I
answered; "John and I will stay with our guns. But I do not suppose the
savages have gone round that way; for recollect there is the lagoon to
pass, which must compel them to make a wide circuit; and I do not see
how they can know anything about our camp. Still, I wish you could go
to Ellen, and tell her what a strong fortification we have thrown up,
and that there is really no cause to be alarmed."
I must confess, however, that all the time I was speaking I felt
fearfully anxious.
At that moment, two or three bigger boys, who had gone out as scouts
into the forest, came running back, and shouting out to the people. The
next instant, men, women, and children rushed into the enclosure loaded
with household goods and provisions; and the men set to work to block up
a narrow space, which had hitherto been left open.
A few minutes only had elapsed after this was done, when, as we looked
through the palisades, we caught sight of several human figures
stealthily creeping among the trees. Our friends crouched down to the
ground. We also carefully kept out of sight. The strangers approached
nearer and nearer. Now they stopped, looking suspiciously at the fort.
They evidently could not understand what it was. Several others,
emerging from the depths of the forest, joined them. They seemed to be
holding a consultation. Their numbers kept increasing, till they formed
a formidable band. They were sufficiently near for us to distinguish
their appearance, and we were thus sure that they were the same people
who had shot their arrows at us from the bank of the igarape. That they
came with hostile intent was very evident. After they had talked for
some time, one of their number crept forward, close to the ground,
keeping as much under shelter as possible; yet I could easily have
picked him off had it been necessary. Having approached quite near, he
again stopped, and seemed to be surveying the fortress. Presently we
saw him making his way back to his companions. It was well for him that
he had not come nearer, or he would have received in his body a poisoned
arrow from a bow or blow-pipe. Several of our Indians were preparing to
shoot. Again a long consultation was held. And now once more the
savage warriors began to move towards us.
I waited for John to give the order to fire. I saw the boys dropping
arrows into their blow-pipes, and the old men getting ready their bows.
Even Arthur, though hating the thought of injuring a fellow-creature,
was fixing an arrow to his bow. The enemy advanced slowly, extending
their line on both sides. In a little time they were near enough for
their arrows to reach us. Never having seen a shot fired in anger, I
felt a repugnance at the thought of killing a fellow-creature. I
daresay my companions felt as I did. I knew that Arthur had often
expressed his horror at having to go into battle, not on account of the
risk he might run of being killed, but at the thought of killing others.
Still, I had persuaded him that, if people are attacked, they must use
the right of defending themselves.
Again they came on; and then suddenly once more stopped, and, drawing
their bows, shot a flight of arrows. Most of them stuck in the
palisades, but fortunately none came through. We kept perfectly silent,
hiding ourselves, as before, from the enemy. I was still in hopes they
might take the alarm and go away without attacking us. Now, led by a
chief, in a head-dress of feathers, with a long spear in his hand,
uttering loud shouts and shrieks, like the war-whoops of North American
Indians, they dashed on. As they got within twenty yards of us, our
native garrison sprang up, and shot forth a shower of arrows from their
bows and blow-pipes. The enemy were thrown somewhat into confusion by
so unexpected a greeting, and sprang back several paces. Two or three
of their people had been struck, as we saw them drawing the arrows from
their breasts with looks of alarm, knowing well that though the wounds
were slight they were nevertheless likely to prove fatal.
"If they come on again we must fire," said John. "It may be true mercy
in the end."
We waited, expecting to see them once more rush on; but they evidently
had not calculated on opposition, and seemed very unwilling to court
danger. They retreated further and further off. Still we could see the
chief going among them, apparently trying to induce them to renew the
attack. The muzzles of our rifles were projecting through the
palisades.
"I am covering the chief," said John. "I think it would be better to
pick him off; and yet I am unwilling to take the life of the ignorant
savage."
While John was speaking, the chief disappeared behind a tree; and the
next instant his companions were hid from sight. We began to hope that,
after all, they would retreat without attempting to attack our fortress.
We waited for some time, when I proposed that we should send out our
young scouts to try and ascertain what had become of them. Just as we
were trying to explain our wishes, some of our people gave vent to loud
cries, and we saw smoke rising from the furthest-off huts of the
village. It grew thicker and thicker. Then we saw flames bursting
forth and extending from hut to hut. It was too evident that the
savages had gone round, and, to revenge themselves, had, after
plundering the huts, set them on fire. Had we had a few active warrior
with us, they might have rushed out and attacked the enemy while thus
employed; but as our fighting men were either too old or too young, no
attempt of the sort could be made. The poor natives, therefore, had to
wait patiently in the fort, whilst their homes and property were being
destroyed.
While most of the party were looking towards the village, I happened to
cast my eyes in the other direction, from whence the enemy had come.
There I saw a large body of men making their way among the trees. My
heart sank within me. I was afraid that our enemies were about to be
reinforced. And now, with their numbers increased, they would probably
again attack us.
"It cannot be helped," I said to John. "We must allow no feelings of
compunction to prevent us from firing on them. Had we shot the chief,
his followers would probably not have attempted to commit this barbarous
act."
At length I called Duppo, and pointed out the fresh band now
approaching. Instead of being alarmed, as I had expected, his
countenance brightened, and he instantly turned round and shouted out
some words in a cheerful tone. The whole of the villagers on this
sprang up, and a look of satisfaction, such as Indians seldom exhibit,
coming over their countenances, they began to shout in cheerful tones.
Then several of them rushed to the entrance last closed, and pulling
down the stakes, hurried out towards the new-comers. As they drew
nearer, I recognised one of the chiefs whom we had met--Maono, Duppo's
father. A few words only were exchanged between the garrison and the
warriors, and then the latter rushed on towards the village. In a few
minutes loud cries and shouts arose, and we saw our late assailants
scampering through the woods, pursued by our friends. The former did
not attempt to stop and defend themselves. Several, shot by arrows or
pierced by lances, lay on the ground. The remainder were soon lost to
sight among the trees, pursued by the warriors who had just returned,
and who seemed eager to wreak their revenge on the destroyers of their
village.
No attempt was made to put out the flames; indeed, so rapidly did they
extend among the combustible materials of which they were constructed,
that the whole of the huts standing within reach of each other were
quickly burned to the ground. We now ventured to accompany Oria and her
mother out of the fort. They were met by Maono, who received them in
calm Indian fashion, without giving way to any exhibition of feeling.
He, indeed, seemed to have some sad intelligence to communicate.
Whatever it was, they soon recovered, and now seemed to be telling him
how much they owed their preservation to us--at least we supposed so by
the way he took our hands and pressed them to his breast. After some
time the rest of the warriors returned, and, as far as we could judge,
they must have destroyed the greater number of their enemies. Maono
showed more feeling when he spoke to his son, who gave him an account of
what had occurred. As we hoped to learn more from our young friend than
from any one else, we set to work, as soon as we could detach him from
his companions, to make him give us an account of the expedition.
As far as we could understand, Maono and his brother with their
followers had been unable for some time to fall in with the enemy. At
length they met them in the neighbourhood of their own village, when a
fierce battle had been fought according to Indian fashion. Several men
had been killed on both sides, and among others who fell, pierced by a
poisoned arrow, was Duppo's uncle, whose musket also had been captured.
Several others had been taken prisoners, and, the lad added with a
shudder, had been carried off to be eaten. In the meantime, it turned
out, another party of the Majeronas, hoping to find our friend's village
unprotected, had made their way through the forest to surprise it.
It was very satisfactory to us, at all events, to find that we had been
the means of protecting the families of these friendly Indians. They
took the burning of their village very calmly, and at once set to work
to put up shelter for the night; fires were lighted, and the women began
to cook the provisions they had saved. Maono invited us to partake of
the meal which his wife and daughter had got ready. We would rather
have set off at once to the camp, but night was now coming on, and when
we proposed going, Duppo seemed very unwilling that we should do so. We
understood him to say that we might encounter jaguars or huge snakes,
and we should be unable to see our way through the dark avenue of trees.
As Ellen did not expect us to return, we agreed at length to follow his
advice. I observed that our friends sent out scouts--apparently to
watch lest any of the enemy should venture to return--a precaution I was
very glad to see taken.
As far as we could understand, the expedition had been far from
successful, as none of the canoes had been recovered, and our friends
did not even boast that they had gained a victory. From the terrible
character Duppo gave of the enemy, they perhaps had good reason to be
thankful that they had escaped without greater loss.