HOWLING MONKEYS--A BEAUTIFUL SCENE--THE CURUPIRA--WE MAKE A RAFT--
CAPTAIN VAN DUNK AND HIS COMPANIONS DEPART ON IT--VISIT THE INDIAN
ENCAMPMENT--WHITE UAKARI--ARRIVAL OF MACO--START ON A LONG SWIM.
We kept a vigilant watch during the night, with the oars ready to shove
off, should by chance any of the Indians approach us. Kallolo took post
on the roots of the tree I have before described, whence we had at first
seen the light which had given us an intimation of the neighbourhood of
the savages, that he might give us timely warning should any of them
quit their encampment and come towards us. Still there was but little
probability of being disturbed during the hours of darkness.
Scarcely had the sun sunk behind the trees when a deep gloom pervaded
the surrounding atmosphere; and from a distance came the most fearful
howlings, echoing through the forest.
"Oh, surely the savages are upon us," I could not help exclaiming.
"No, Massa Guy, no fear of that," answered Kallolo. "Dey only howling
monkeys, which are shouting to each oder from de top branches of de
trees, asking each oder how dem are dis fine ebening."
After this assurance, the other noises which came out of the forest did
not create so much feeling of alarm. I knew they were only the cries of
animals or birds or insects, all of which were adding their voices to
the wild, and certainly not harmonious, concert. Flocks of parrots and
blue macaws flew overhead, the different kinds of cawing and screaming
of the various species making a terrible discord. Then arose the
strangely sounding call of the cicada, or cricket, one of the largest
kind, perched high on the trees, setting up a most piercing chirp. It
began with the usual harsh jarring tone of its tribe, rapidly becoming
shriller, until it ended in a long and loud whistling note.
Comparatively small as are these wonderful performers, their voices made
a considerable item in the evening concert. Before they had ceased, the
tree-frogs chimed in with their "Quack, quack! drum, drum! hoo, hoo!"
accompanied by melancholy nightjars, which for long kept up their
monotonous cries.
While we were seated, the whole air above our heads suddenly became
bright and glaring with lights of various hues; now darting here, now
there; now for a moment obscured only to burst forth again with greater
brilliancy. These beautiful lights were caused by fireflies and
fire-beetles. The lights of the former were red, and bright as those of
the brightest candle; and being alternately emitted and concealed, each
of the tiny flames performing its own part in the mazy dance, they
produced a singularly beautiful spectacle. The fireflies, however,
disappeared shortly afterwards, when a number of large beetles, called
elaters, took their place, displaying both red and green lights. The
red glare, like that of a lamp, alternately flashed and vanished, as the
insect turned its body in flight; and now and then a green light was
displayed. The mingling of the two colours, red and green, in the
evolutions of flight totally surpasses my power of description. We
caught several, and had we possessed an uncoloured glass bottle we might
have made a lantern which would have afforded us sufficient light to
work by. Even through the thick glass of a schiedam bottle a strong
light was emitted, but scarcely sufficient for our purpose, though it
enabled us to see our way about the log.
After some time all was silent, then suddenly came a loud yell, or
scream, uttered probably by some defenceless fruit-eating animal which
had been pounced upon by a tiger-cat or the stealthy boa-constrictor.
It required the exercise of a considerable amount of nerve to keep up
our spirits during those dark hours of the night. Now and then there
came also a crash, resounding far through the wilderness, as some huge
bough, or perhaps an entire tree, its roots loosened by the flood, fell
into the water, striking the neighbouring trees with its branches in its
descent. Most of these sounds, however, we could account for. At
length, as we all lay awake, a noise reached our ears which made several
of our party start up. I can describe it only as like the clang of an
iron bar struck against a hard hollow tree, followed by a piercing cry.
As it was not repeated, the dead silence which followed tended to
heighten the unpleasant impression it had produced.
"What can it be?" I asked Kallolo, who had just returned on board and
was sitting by me.
"Dat, Massa Guy? Dat de voice of de curupira. He bery bad man, with
long shaggy hair, and live in de trees. He neber let anyone see him,
but walk about all night, doing all the harm he can. Often he comes
down to de plantations to steal de mandioca, and carry off young
children when he can. Him got bright red face, and feet like de stag."
"But if no one has seen him, how can you tell that he has got red face,
cloven feet, and shaggy hair?" I asked.
"Ah, Massa Guy, that is more than I know; but my fader tell me so, his
fader tell him,--so I suppose some one saw him long, long ago."
"I only hope, then, that he will not come and pay us a visit," I
remarked.
"I hope not, massa," said Kallolo, shuddering and looking round into the
darkness as if he just then thought that such a thing was by no means
improbable.
Notwithstanding the dangerous position in which we were placed, I at
length dropped off to sleep. When I awoke, the day was beginning to
dawn; the birds were again astir; the cicadae had commenced their music;
flocks of parrots and macaws, and other winged inhabitants of the
forest, were passing overhead in countless numbers, seeking their
morning repast; beautiful long-tailed and gilded moths, like
butterflies, were flying over the tree-tops; the sky had assumed the
loveliest azure colour, across which were drawn streaks of thin white
clouds with Nature's most delicate touch. The varied forms of the
trees, imperceptible during the gloom of night, now appeared, the
smaller foliage contrasting with the large, glossy leaves of the taller
trees, and the feathery, fan-shaped fronds of the palms.
The air, for a short time, felt cool and refreshing; but almost before
the sun had gilded the topmost boughs of the trees, the heat began to
increase and give indication of a sultry day. All hands were speedily
on foot. The skipper led the way on to the roots of the trees, (for I
must not say, on to the shore), followed by Peter and the rest of his
crew, and began to hew away at the smaller palms and other trees which
they thought would serve to form the proposed raft. Tree after tree was
cut down; but the felling of each occupied some time. Arthur, Tim, and
I assisted in towing them out to the log, where we arranged them
alongside each other, ready to receive the crosspieces by which the
whole were to be bound together. Trees somewhat lighter, cut into
lengths, were selected for the latter purpose. We looked out for the
Indian encampment, but from no point we could reach was it visible; and
we concluded, therefore, that we were not likely to be seen by any of
the natives. Although a description of the operations we were employed
in can be given in a few words, they occupied the whole day. After the
logs had been cut we had to collect a quantity of the more flexible
vines with which to bind them together; and this also took us a good
deal of time. Thus, though we got over our meals as quickly as
possible, it was again night before the raft was completed. Some long
poles for propelling it had also been cut and shaped.
The skipper contemplated the work with evident satisfaction. "There, my
friends," he said, "this will carry more than half of our party; and if
half of you will consent to embark, I will stop and assist in making
another like it, so that we may all proceed together. I don't like the
thought of leaving you behind."
Uncle Paul and my father, however, firmly declined the skipper's offer.
"I would much rather that you should go forward, Captain van Dunk, and
explore the way; and should you be successful in finding an eligible
spot for camping on and building a vessel, you could send back for us,
and we would then construct one or more rafts for the voyage. The
dangers of the expedition are too great for Marian and her father to
encounter, unless with a definite object in view."
"Well, well," answered the captain, "I trust that we shall meet again
ere long. Now, my friends, we must go on board, and shove off."
When this was said we were seated at supper. As soon as it was over,
the various articles which the skipper intended to take with him were
placed on board the raft. Shaking us all by the hand, he and his crew
stepped on to it, each armed with a long pole, which assisted to steady
them and at the same time to push on the raft. We did not cheer, as we
might have done under other circumstances, for fear that our voices
should reach the Indians, at no great distance, so in perfect silence
our friends shoved off into the middle of the stream. Darkness having
come on, they were speedily lost to sight.
I had from the first contemplated the possibility of making an excursion
through the forest, in order to ascertain, if possible, the exact
position of the Indian encampment. There could be little doubt that it
was constructed as ours had been at the grove on the Orinoco,--high up
on the branches of some enormous tree, or on a platform supported by the
stems of several trees; which is the way, Kallolo told me, the Indians
inhabiting the region nearer the mouth of the river form their
habitations. Arthur and I had been talking the matter over, and we
proposed it to Kallolo. He said that he was quite ready to go alone,
but that if we wished to accompany him he should have no objection.
Could we have secured a band of elaters to go before us, we might,
without difficulty, have found our way; but as neither they nor the
fireflies could be depended on, we should have to make the expedition in
darkness. There was, however, a bright moon in the sky, which, provided
we kept along the edge of the river, would give us sufficient light.
The only creatures we had to fear were the anacondas; but Kallolo
averred that they were not often found in narrow streams, and that the
alligators always forsook the flooded region and went further up the
country, where they could find sunny banks to bask on during the day,
and a more ample supply of food. We mentioned our wishes to Uncle Paul
and my father. They at first objected, but on Kallolo's assuring them
that there was no great danger, and that he would take good care of us,
they consented to let us go, provided we did not extend our explorations
to any great distance. Tim would have liked to go also, but Uncle Paul
desired him to remain to assist him should his services be required.
Accordingly, each of us taking a long pole as a weapon of defence, as
well as to assist in making our way along the fallen logs and roots of
the trees, we set out. Kallolo led, I went next, and Arthur followed.
We carried also a long piece of rope, one end of which Kallolo held in
his hand, and the other was fastened round Arthur's waist, while I
secured myself by a separate piece to the middle. Should either of us
slip into the water, we could thus easily be hauled-out again.
I knew very well that our expedition would be a hazardous one, but I was
scarcely prepared, I confess, for the difficulties we encountered and
the fatigue we had to go through. Without Kallolo's guidance we should
certainly not have been able to accomplish it. Sometimes we had to leap
from root to root; at others, to walk along a fallen log, raised several
feet above the surface; and often we had to wade in the water up to our
knees, with the risk every moment of being soused overhead in it. Now
and then we had to climb a tree. We were keeping all the while on the
east side of the stream, as it was that on which we expected to find the
encampment. Kallolo advanced cautiously, giving us time to obtain a
firm footing before he again moved forward. Sometimes we were all three
walking together along a fallen trunk, then we had to cling to the huge
buttressed roots of a tree.
We had gone on in this way for a considerable time, when we saw before
us a wide space of water, which it would be necessary to cross ere we
could again reach another mass of trees, over whose boughs we hoped to
make our onward way. Kallolo sounded it with his pole. "We may, I
think, wade across it," he said; "though it may be better to swim, lest
we strike our feet against any stems remaining in the ground." We
agreed to follow him, though I confess I had no great fancy for swimming
through that ink-like water, and could not help fearing lest some
monster lying at the bottom might rise up and seize us. However, it had
to be done, unless we should make up our minds to return.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked.
"Yes, yes," answered Arthur.
Kallolo entered the water and struck out. We followed, keeping close
behind him and trailing our poles by our sides. I did my best to keep
the end of mine down, so that any creature at the bottom might seize
hold of it instead of my legs. Arthur said that he was doing the same;
but Kallolo appeared to have no apprehensions on the subject. We soon
reached a branch almost touching the water. We scrambled on to it, and
then without difficulty made good progress, holding on to the hanging
sepos amid which we passed. We had gone some way when my foot struck on
a slimy substance, and I heard a loud hiss as I felt it glide from
beneath me and splash into the water below. I knew that I had trodden
on a snake, and was thankful that it had not sprung up and bitten me. I
told Arthur.
"I hope we shall not meet with another," he answered calmly. "It was
one of the things we had to expect."
The only object we had to guide us was the light from the Indian
encampment, of which we occasionally caught glimpses. It seemed to be
much further off than we had supposed. Indeed, sometimes I fancied that
it was no nearer than when first we started! Occasionally I felt almost
sorry that I had attempted the expedition. Then I remembered the
importance of ascertaining the exact position of the encampment, and its
distance from the river.
Sometimes, as we went along, we disturbed huge frogs, which were seated
on the low boughs and the floating logs, and which went off with loud
splashes into the water. The croakings of others were heard on every
side. Frequently a huge bat or bird of night flitted by. The wings of
the former fanned our faces, while the latter uttered a harsh croak or
shriek as it flew through the gloom. Generally all around us was silent
and dark, an oppressive gloom pervading the atmosphere, except when we
passed through a swarm of fireflies or elaters, as we now and then did.
At length as we advanced we saw a light directly before us, and
considerably above the level over which we were passing. We were
anxious to get as near to it as we could without being seen, so as to
ascertain its distance from the river. We went on some way further,
when, to our surprise, we came upon a stream, which we found running
between us and the Indian camp, (for so I may call it, for want of a
better name). On we crept in silence, till, crawling along a bough
which hung just above the water, we came full in sight of it. We now
discovered, what I had before conjectured, that it was a platform
erected upon the branches of an enormous tree. In the centre burned a
fire, around which some thirty or forty natives were seated, while we
could distinguish others scattered about,--some on the branches, and
others on a mass of logs which formed a natural bridge at no great
distance from us. The light of the fire above showed us two men
standing on it. We dared scarcely move lest they should see us. What
they were about we could not ascertain, but it seemed to us that they
were watching for some one. Could they by any means have discovered our
approach, I thought it would not take them many minutes to cross the
stream and make their way to us. We could see no canoes. With a canoe
they might have speedily overtaken us without our having the slightest
chance of escape. Had Captain van Dunk and his companions come this
way, they must to a certainty have fallen into the hands of the savages.
We gazed up at the platform, and everywhere around--the figures of
natives alone met our sight. I had been standing a little way behind my
companions, who now drew back. I asked them what they thought about the
matter.
"This is not the main stream," answered Kallolo. "We must use great
caution in proceeding, as it cannot be far off; but I hope,
notwithstanding, that the captain managed to pass by without being seen.
We must remember, when we attempt to make the passage, to keep to the
right, which will carry us away from this spot."
Arthur was of Kallolo's opinion; he acknowledged that he should feel
very anxious till we had got a good distance from the encampment. It
could scarcely be supposed that the savages were without canoes; and
should they by any means discover that strangers were near them, they
would probably follow us.
Having now gained all the information we required, we agreed that it was
time to return, and accordingly set out, Kallolo leading, as before.
How he managed to guide us was more than I could discover, for I felt
very sure that I should immediately have lost my way, unless I had
turned constantly to observe the position of the camp. He went on
steadily, without once, as far as I saw, looking round. He took a
different course to that by which we had come; and though longer, it
seemed to me that we had fewer difficulties to encounter than before.
Perhaps we were more accustomed to them. We had, however, twice to swim
across portions of the flooded land. Had it not been for the fear of
being caught by an anaconda or alligator, this would have been the less
fatiguing mode of proceeding; but as we made our way through the dark
waters, I could not avoid having very uncomfortable feelings on the
subject. In some places the water was sufficiently shallow to enable us
to wade without difficulty, showing that the land must here be much
higher, and giving us hopes that we should, before long, reach dry
ground. The most difficult work was walking along the submerged logs,
for we had carefully to balance ourselves, to prevent falling off. At
the end we had generally to climb up the roots or branches, and make our
way along the low boughs, sometimes having to swing ourselves off from
one to the other by means of the sepos. Several times the boughs
threatened to give way beneath our feet; and once Arthur and I were
plunged into a mass of rotten brushwood and water, where we should
certainly have lost our lives had not Kallolo quickly hauled us out
again with the rope. At length, thoroughly fatigued, we saw, just as
the dawn was breaking, the log and our friends on it, who were anxiously
looking out for us, as we had been absent much longer than they had
expected us to be.
We were thankful to take off our wet trousers and shirts, and cover
ourselves up in Uncle Paul's and my father's cloaks while our own
clothes were hung up to dry. This did not take long in the hot air. We
were too tired to eat, and therefore lay down to sleep till
breakfast-time; while Kallolo, who was well accustomed to that sort of
work, gave an account of our expedition to my father and Uncle Paul.
When I awoke, I found breakfast prepared; and putting on my clothes, I
sat down to eat it. We had ventured to light a small fire, as Kallolo
assured us that the Indians would not observe the smoke at the distance
they were from us. A decoction from some leaves, which served us as
tea, had been boiled in the iron pot. I could have drunk any quantity
of it, but found myself utterly unable to eat anything. Arthur was much
in the same state; indeed, he felt even worse than I did. Our friends
became very anxious, for, without shelter or any remedies against
disease, should we become really ill the matter would be very serious.
Kallolo, seeing the condition we were in, immediately set to work and
cut a quantity of palm branches, with which, aided by Tim, he formed a
sort of arbour to shelter us from the sun. He then started off, and
returned shortly with the fruit of a certain palm--a decoction from
which, he said, would afford a cooling drink--which he immediately put
on the fire. After allowing the liquid to cool, he gave each of us a
large cupful, and poured the remainder into one of the bottles formed
from the cuja fruit, his countenance meanwhile expressing deep concern.
All day we lay, our heads racked with pain. Had we been called upon to
make any exertion, we should have found it impossible. Uncle Paul
proposed to bleed us, but Kallolo entreated him not to do so, saying
that if we persevered in following his plan of cure we should soon be
well. We drank cupful after cupful of the decoction he had prepared;
and towards evening the pain left my head, and though I felt a peculiar
lassitude such as I had never before experienced, I had no other
disagreeable sensation. By the next morning both Arthur and I were
perfectly well, and able to do justice to the portions of fish and flesh
cooked for us, and the ample supply of fruit Kallolo had collected in
the forest. This was the only time during the period of our expedition
that I had the slightest attack of illness.
"I am so thankful that you are both well again!" exclaimed Marian, as
she sat near us. "I was so miserable all yesterday; and thought how
dreadful it would be should you die, and our father and uncle be left
with me alone. I am not exactly tired of this sort of life, but I do
heartily wish that we were safe again among friends."
"It is better than being shut up in the Inquisition, at all events,"
said Arthur; "though for your sake I wish we were safe on shore.
However, perhaps before long we may reach dry land; and then, if the
brave skipper is able to carry out his intentions, we may soon get away.
If we can reach a Dutch settlement, we shall be safe; for when the
Hollanders hear that we have been flying from the Inquisition, they
will, I am very sure, give us a friendly reception. You know how
bravely they fought to overthrow it in their own country, under the
brave William of Orange, when Philip of Spain and his cruel general the
Duke of Alva tried to impose it on them. They have never forgotten
those days; and their country is as purely a Protestant one as Old
England and her colonies." I heard my poor father sigh; he was, I have
no doubt, regretting having ventured under a government supporting that
horrible system, so calculated to destroy all true religious principles,
and to make the people become fanatics or hypocrites. Arthur heard him,
and changed the subject, as he knew it must be one which could not fail
to be painful.
We were anxiously awaiting the return of Maco, whom we hoped would bring
us tidings of Captain van Dunk.
The heat, as may be supposed, was very great, for the sun having gained
its greatest altitude, its rays fell down on the narrow stream
undisturbed by the slightest breath of air. To shield us somewhat from
it, Kallolo and Tim had collected a number of branches, and formed a
complete arbour over our heads, in addition to the bed-places they had
before made. We could thus lie in the shade, shielded from the burning
sun. It served also to hide us from the view of any natives who might
approach the neighbourhood. The lower part was left open, so as to
allow the air to circulate freely; and we could thus see the forest on
either side.
We were all seated together; but most of us feeling drowsy, were
disinclined for conversation. I was lying down near Marian, when she
touched me, whispering, "Look, look, Guy, at those curious creatures!"
I turned my eyes in the direction she pointed, and saw, peering at us
from among the boughs of a neighbouring tree, a whole tribe of almost
tailless monkeys. They were curious-looking creatures, with faces of a
vivid scarlet hue; their bodies, about eighteen inches long, were
clothed with long, straight, shining, whitish hair; their heads were
nearly bald, and sprinkled over with a short crop of thin grey hair;
whilst around their ruddy countenances were bushy whiskers of a sandy
colour, leading under the chin. Though almost destitute of tails, they
seemed to be active little creatures, as we saw them running up and down
the larger branches; not leaping, however, from one to the other, as do
most of the monkey tribes which we had seen. Several of them, evidently
mothers, were carrying young ones on their backs; but they moved about
quite as rapidly as the rest. We remained perfectly quiet, watching
them at their gambols. Now and then several of them would come and have
a look at us, and then run off--as if to give an account to their
companions of the strange creatures they had seen. Soon others would
come and gaze at us with their reddish-yellow eyes, evidently somewhat
doubtful as to what we were, and as to our power to harm them; again to
run off to a distance, jabbering and shrieking in the greatest
excitement. Prompted by curiosity, others would quickly appear,--
especially mammas; accompanied by delicate-looking monkeys whom we took
to be unmarried young ladies. Indeed, they showed that curiosity
affects the breasts of female monkeys as powerfully as it is said to do
that of human beings of the fair sex. They afforded us great amusement;
till at last, after an hour or so, Uncle Paul, who had been sleeping,
suddenly started up and gave a loud sneeze, when they all scampered up a
tree; and as we looked up, we could see them making their way along the
topmost branches, till they disappeared in the distance.
Kallolo told us that this species of monkey is known as the white
uakari. Marian said that she should like to have one. He replied that
they were very difficult to catch, and that unless taken very young,
being of a sensitive disposition, they speedily pine and die. He told
us that the native, when he wishes to catch one alive, goes forth with
his blowpipe and arrows tipped with diluted woorali poison. This
poison, though it produces a deadly effect on all animals, as well as on
the natives, who exist without salt, has very little effect on
salt-consuming Europeans. Salt, indeed, is the only antidote to the
poison. The hunter, therefore, when in search of the white uakari,
supplies himself with a small quantity of salt. As soon as he has shot
the monkey, he follows it through the forest, till, the poison beginning
to take effect, it falls from the tree. He takes care to be close under
the bough to catch it in his arms, and immediately puts a pinch of salt
into its mouth. In a short time the little creature revives; and in
most instances not appearing to be much the worse for the poison, it is
led away captive. A young one thus entrapped speedily becomes tame, and
is much prized, as an interesting pet, by the white inhabitants.
Kallolo promised, as soon as he could manufacture a blowpipe, to try and
catch a young uakari for Marian; and he said that he was sure, under the
instruction of Quacko, it would soon become civilised.
Hitherto Quacko and the ara parrot had been our chief sources of
amusement. The two creatures had become great friends, though Quacko
now and then showed an inclination to pick the feathers out of his
companion's back; but when he made the attempt, she resented it by a
severe peck on his head--and one day caught the tip of his tail, and
gave it a bite which was calculated to teach him not to behave in the
same manner again. Whenever we asked Kallolo to try and catch us some
more pets, he invariably replied, "Wait till I can make my blowpipe and
some poison, and then I will bring you as many creatures as you may wish
for. Ah, the blowpipe is a wonderful instrument; it will serve to kill
anything, from a big tapir or a fierce jaguar or puma, down to the
smallest manakin or humming-bird."
Frequently, during the day, Kallolo crept from our shelter and took a
look round in the direction of the Indian camp, to make sure that none
of the savages were approaching. He was certain, he said, that they had
no canoes, or they would have found us out before this. Just at sunset
he came back with the alarming intelligence that he had seen an Indian
in the distance, who was evidently making his way towards us. He
advised us to remain perfectly quiet, so that, unless he should really
come close to the log, we might escape being seen. "As I saw but one
man, he cannot be coming with any hostile intention; though he might
possibly, should he discover us, go back and return with his
companions," he added. We all accordingly withdrew within our leafy
arbour, where, as the night was already casting its gloomy mantle over
us, there was little probability of our being seen.
We remained without speaking, for fear the stranger might hear our
voices. The sounds I have before described began to issue from the
forest, preventing us from hearing the noise he might make in
approaching. We had begun to hope that he had turned back, when
suddenly a voice close to us exclaimed, "Halloa! what has become of them
all?" and to our great satisfaction we recognised it as that of Maco.
Uncle Paul immediately called to him; and he soon scrambled on board,
exhibiting infinite satisfaction at finding us. He had, he told us,
many adventures to narrate, in addition to a message of importance which
he brought from the captain. We replied that we were eager to hear what
he had to say.
"I must be a very short time about it," he answered, "as the captain
begs that you will come forward at once and join him. You must know
that we found the voyage on the raft, far more difficult than we had
expected, on account of the number of large roots projecting into the
stream, and the boughs which hung over it, almost close to the surface
of the water. We frequently had to jump off our raft, and, where the
water was shallow enough, drag it along. At other times we had to swim
by its side, or push it before us; and even thus we had often difficulty
in getting along. We believe that we were not discovered by the
natives; at all events, they did not follow us. Twice we caught sight
of them when we were in the water, and we could not account for their
not having seen us. We found the channel extended for several miles,
seldom being wider than it is here, and often much narrower. At its
termination it widens into a succession of lakes; but for a long way we
could not find firm ground. At length, after pushing up a stream, we
reached a bank where the forest was much less dense than we had hitherto
found it; and going on still further, we arrived at an open space of
small size, exactly such as the captain was in search of. We here
landed our stores; and he and Peter having begun to put up a hut, and to
mark such trees as he considered would serve for a vessel, he sent Sambo
and me back on the raft to the end of the narrow passage. I there left
Sambo, to take care of the raft, and to catch fish and kill some birds
for food, while I swam on here with the aid of my floats. Considering
the difficulties we met with in getting through the passage on the raft,
the captain advises that you should all make your way along it by
swimming. We saw no alligators, which are the only creatures to be
dreaded, and the captain is certain that they have all gone further into
the interior; at all events, that none inhabit the passage. I am now
well acquainted with the way; and if we pass the Indian encampment
during the hours of darkness, we shall run no risk of being discovered.
Should you decline coming on in the way I mention, the captain advises
that you should go back on the log, and try to find the entrance of a
much wider and deeper channel, which he is sure exists some way to the
northward; and it is by this channel that the captain hopes to carry his
vessel, when built, into the waters of the Orinoco."
We all listened eagerly to Maco's account; of which I merely give a
brief translation, for, of course, the language he used would be quite
unintelligible to my readers.
Uncle Paul was very doubtful about the plan proposed, and my father was
very unwilling to expose Marian to so much risk. She herself, however,
declared that she was quite willing to undertake the expedition. Both
Kallolo and Maco very strongly urged that we should do as the captain
advised. Were we to return down the stream on the log, a long time
might be spent; and we should very likely fall in with other savages,
who might be even less peacefully disposed than those in the camp near
us. Their habits we had as yet had no opportunity of ascertaining.
They might possibly be friendly, though, with the uncertainty, it was
prudent to try and avoid them altogether. One thing was certain, they
were not addicted to roaming about, or they could not have failed to
find us; and we might certainly hope to pass by them unobserved. These
arguments at length prevailed with my father and Uncle Paul, and they
agreed to set out. The few things we had with us were done tightly up
and placed on floats, which Kallolo and Maco agreed to push before them.
Marian's gown and our jackets were done up in the same way, so that she
only retained a tight-fitting under-dress, which would not impede her
progress, while we wore our trousers. These arrangements being made, we
fitted on our floats, of which each of us had four; and they were
sufficient to keep our shoulders and arms well out of the water, while
at the same time they did not impede our progress.
We took our last meal on board the log which had carried us so well;
then waiting for some time, till we believed that the natives would have
retired to rest, we stood ready to set out on our dangerous and novel
expedition. In no other climate could we have undertaken it. The water
was here so warm, even at night, that there was no risk of our limbs
becoming cramped by being long immersed in it; nor were we likely to
suffer in any other way. Really, for the sake of protection from the
cold, garments were altogether unnecessary; and it is not surprising
that the dark-skinned natives should consider them an encumbrance, and
generally dispense with them altogether.
"Are you all ready?" asked Uncle Paul.
"Yes!" was the general answer; "all ready."
It was settled that he should take the command, though Maco acted as our
guide. The Indian, slipping off into the water, struck out up the
centre of the channel; our uncle and father followed; Kallolo went next,
carrying Quacko on his head, with Tim, who had charge of Ara on his;
Marian and I, with Arthur to support her in case of need, brought up the
rear. The floats bore us up admirably; and we found swimming a far more
easy mode of progression than we should have found walking over the logs
through the mighty forest to be.
We went on, keeping close together, without speaking, lest by any chance
our voices might be heard by the Indians, whom we were anxious to avoid.
Our progress was slow, of course, as the best swimmers had to wait for
the rest. The time appeared to me to be very long; and I fancied that
we had been swimming for more than an hour, when in reality we had not
been half that time in the water. We could not, however, avoid every
now and then looking up to the huge fire of the Indians, which could be
discerned burning brightly in the distance; but instead of getting
nearer to it, as I expected that we should, it became less and less
distinct, and at last was to be seen almost behind us. I knew that we
were turning off in an opposite direction; still we were too near the
danger not to wish to get further from it. On our left I observed the
mouth of a channel which we had reached on a former night, and which
led, I have no doubt, close under the Indian encampment. Had we not
possessed Maco as a guide, we should very naturally have gone up it, and
thus found ourselves close to our supposed enemies.
I was already beginning to feel somewhat fatigued, and I was afraid that
Marian must be tired. I asked her how she felt.
"I should much like to get a short rest, if it is possible," she
answered; "but I can go on longer, though my arms and legs are beginning
to ache."
Just then Maco, who had been some way ahead, returned; and having spoken
a few words to Uncle Paul, he led us to the side of the stream, where we
found the buttress roots, as I have before described, of a large tree
projecting into the water. We all climbed on it; and Arthur and I
assisted Marian to a spot where she could rest with comparative comfort.
We sat down by her side, but prudence prevented us from speaking above
a whisper. We waited for some time, then Uncle Paul asked her if she
was ready to go on.
"Yes, yes!" she answered. "I already begin to feel more like a fish;
and I think, after a little experience I shall be as much at home in the
water as on dry ground."
This answer showed that she was in good spirits; and once more the whole
party slipped into the channel. We proceeded up it much in the same way
as before. Quacko and Ara would have objected to this sort of progress,
had they not been perched on the heads of those whom they knew to be
their friends. There they sat with perfect composure, supposing that
all must be right, and, I dare say, thinking themselves beings of no
little importance.
We had gone on for some time, when I perceived that the gloom of night
was gradually disappearing, the light of dawn taking its place. I
describe the change from night to day just as it appeared to me at the
time. Looking up, I saw that the tops of the trees were already tinged
with the glow of the rising sun. Rapidly it descended; and at length
the trees, the tall stems and winding sepos, the rich foliage, and the
calm water, were bathed in the warm light of day. No scene could have
been more beautiful. Our spirits rose, and, strange as it may seem, I
could scarcely help shouting out with delight. On one side of us
floated a number of magnificent water-lilies with leaves of prodigious
size, which I will afterwards describe. They were such as we had never
seen before.
Maco, who had gone ahead, was seated on a bough almost concealed by the
foliage, beckoning us to come on. At that moment Uncle Paul pointed
upwards towards the left; and looking over my shoulder, I saw through an
opening in the forest a platform raised between several palm-trees, with
a number of natives on it, while others, with spears in their hands,
were standing on the lower boughs engaged in spearing either fish or
turtles. They were apparently so occupied, that we hoped they had not
seen us.
Although we had already been swimming for some time, we could not
venture to rest as we had intended doing; we therefore pushed on as
rapidly as we could. In a short time Marian confessed that she could go
no further. We had, fortunately, a small piece of rope, which the
skipper had left us. It was uncoiled from the float which supported it,
and one end fastened to Marian's floats; Kallolo taking the other end,
towed her forward, while Arthur and I swam by her side. We were thus
able to proceed much faster than before.
At last we all got so tired, that even Arthur and I could not help
crying out that we should like to rest; and as we had for some time lost
sight of the Indians, there appeared to be no danger in our doing so.
Reaching a widespreading bough, therefore, interlaced by a number of
sepos not more than a foot from the water, those who were leading
climbed on it, and assisted up Marian, Arthur and I following. Here we
were all able to rest, sheltered from the rays of the sun, by this time
striking down with great force, and concealed from anyone at a distance
by the thick foliage which surrounded us.