snakes were there, hundreds of them, perched upon the thickness of the
wall--the ridge of their bodies gleaming in the red light of sunset, their
long necks hanging down, waving and twining. Every head was turned towards
him, the glass-bright eyes fixed on his, and the tongues slithering with
eagerness. Nightmare was never so horrible.
For an instant Boville stood frozen, with dropped jaw and starting eyes,
the icy sweat streaming from every pore; then, howling in no human voice,
he burst through the doorway, through the guard, and fell in the midst of
a party advancing.
All the Europeans in Whydah were there, with the Viceroy himself, and the
head fetich man. The horrid absurdity of their equipment I have no room to
describe. The white men had been pleading, even threatening, and the
Viceroy supported them. When Boville dropped at their feet the last word
had been spoken. His punishment should be that decreed against the man who
kills a snake by evil chance--no worse.
'What is that?' Boville panted, when the agent who held him in his arms
had explained.
'Never mind--we'll do our best! And it is to be at once, thank God! Night
will soon be here!'
'Don't go--not all of you! Don't leave me with these devils!'
'We must, poor boy--to arrange. But we shall return.'
Boville remained among a group of fetich men, who sang and capered round,
making gruesome pantomime of tortures. Meanwhile, others were busy at a
shed with spades and bundles of reed. Dusk was settling down when they had
finished. The head priests returning took their stations, surrounded by
men with torches still unlit. All the population was gathered round the
holy area.
Mr. Blank came back with others. 'Listen,' he said. 'They are going to put
you--unbound--in a hole, cover you with reeds, and set them alight. You
must spring up and run to the nearest water, all these brutes after you.
But I have arranged with many of them, and they will intercept the others.
Now mark, for your life may depend on it! The law is that one who kills a
snake shall be cut and hacked till he reaches water! They expect you to
make for the river, but there is a pond on the very edge of the fetich
wood yonder! See? You make for that! You can't miss it if you go straight
between the torches and the temple. You understand? Now summon your
courage, man, and run for your life.'
He wrung Boville's hand. The executioners seized their victim and hurried
him to the shed, amidst a furious tumult--roaring, singing, beating of
drums, and blaring of cow-horns--thrust him into the hole, and heaped
combustibles over him. The instant he was free Boville sprang up, but the
reeds flared as quick as gunpowder. All ablaze he ran--the savage crew
pursuing. But they mostly expected him on the river side. With but little
hurt, save burns, he reached the pool and leapt in.
It is satisfactory to add that Boville did not suffer in health or fortune
by this dread experience. He became the richest trader in Whydah, a
special favourite with the natives. But he collected no more orchids.
INDEX
Angraecum sesquipedale, 97
Anguloa, 162
Anthurium x Albanense, 68
" x aurantiacum, 69
" x Goliath, 68
" x Lady Godiva, 68
" x Lawrenceae, 68
" x niveum, 69
" x Salmoniae, 68
" x Saumon, 69
" x The Queen, 69
Brassavola Digbyana--Story, 151
Bulbophyllum barbigerum--Story, 253
Calanthe x bella, 129
" x Clive, 130
" x Florence, 130
" x Sandhurstiana, 129
" x Veitchii alba, 130
" x Victoria Regina, 130
" x William Murray, 130
Cattleya x Atalanta, 91
" aurea, 26
" " R. H. Measures, 26
" bicolor Measuresiana, 26
" Bowringiana, 31
" " --Story, 37
" x Browniae, 90
" x Cecilia, 94
" x Chloris, 89
" chrysotoxa, 27
" Extermination of, 28, 144-148
" x Fowleri, 92
" Gaskelliana, 33
" " Dellensis, 33
" " Duke of Marlborough, 33
" " Godseffiana, 33
" " Herbertiana, 34
" " Measuresiana, 33
" " Miss Clara Measures, 33
" " Sanderiana, 34
" " Woodlandsensis, 34
" gigas, 25
" " Imschootiana, 25
" " Sanderae, 26
" guttata Leopoldii--Hybrids, 8
" Harrisoniae R. H. Measures, 35
" intermedia Louryana, 97
" " Parthenia, 96
" x Kienastiana, 91
" labiata Adelina, 147
" " alba, 146
" " Archduchess, 147
" " Baroness Schroeder, 146
" " bella, 147
" " Her Majesty, 147
" " imperatrix, 145
" " Juno, 147
" " Macfarlanei, 146
" " Measuresiana, 146
" " Mrs. R. H. Measures, 146
" " nobilis, 145
" " Princesse de Croix, 146
" " Princess May, 147
" " Princess of Wales, 147
" " Robin Measures, 147
" " Sanderae, 146
" Lawrenceana, 148
" " Extermination of, 148
" x Louis Chaton, 94
" x Mantinii inversa, 89
" x " nobilior, 89
" x Mariottiana, 91
" x Mary Measures, 149
" Mendelii, 29
" " Duke of Marlborough, 30
" " Lily Measures, 30
" " Monica Measures, 30
" " Mrs. R. H. Measures, 30
" " R. H. Measures, 30
" " William Lloyd, 30
" x Miss Measures, 92
" Mossiae, 32
" " excelsior, 32
" " gigantea, 32
" " Gilbert Measures, 32
" " grandiflora, 32
" " Mrs. R. H. Measures, 32
" " --Story, 45
" " Wageneri, 32
" Mrs. Fred Hardy, 27
" x Mrs. Mahler, 13
" O'Brieniana, 94
" x Our Queen, 93
" x Portia, 89
" x Prince of Wales, 91
" Sanderiana, 26
" " A Collector's report upon, 28
" Schroderae, 30
" " Miss Mary Measures, 30
" Skinneri alba--Story, 59
" speciosissima alba, 31
" " Dawsonii, 31
" Trianae, 34
" " Macfarlanei, 34
" " Measuresiana, 35
" " Robert Measures, 35
" " Tyrianthina, 35
" " Woodlandsensis, 35
" Trismegistris, 27
" x Wendlandiana, 94
" x William Murray, 92
Coelogyne speciosa--Story, 135
Cymbidium x Lowiano-eburneum, 132
" x eburneo-Lowianum, 132
Cypripediums, 170
" x A de Lairesse, 191
" x Adrastus, 196
" x Alfred, 181
" x Amphion, 181
" x Annie Measures, 196
" x Antigone, 179
" x Aphrodite superbum, 179
" x Arnoldiae, 180
" x Arnoldianum, 180
" x Arthurianum pulchellum, 196
" x Astraea, 196
" x Athos, 196
" x aurantiacum, 197
" x Aylingii, 180
" x Baconis, 177
" x barbato-bellatulum, 178
" x Beeckmanii, 178
" bellatulum album, 177
" x " egregium, 178
" " eximium, 176
" Boissierianum--_vide_ reticulatum.
" x Brownii, 179
" x Brysa, 200
" x calloso-niveum, 181
" x callosum Sanderae, 180
" x Cardinale, 178
" x Charles Richmond, 202
" x chrysocomes, 178
" x Claudii, 178
" x Cleopatra, 197
" x conco-callosum, 181
" x " Curtisii, 181
" x " Lawre, 181
" Cowleyanum, 181
" Curtisii--Story, 183
" " (Woodlands variety), 182
" Cyanides, 180
" x Cydonia, 200
" x cymatodes, 191
" Dauthierii albino, 192
" " marmoratum, 192
" x Edwardii, 193
" x Engelhardtiae, 193
" x Evenor, 192
" x excelsior, 192
" Fairieanum, 193
" x Frau Ida Brandt, 196
" x Georges Truffaut, 194
" x Gertrude, 194
" x Gertrude Hollington, 177
" Godefroyae, 69
" x H. Ballantine, 177
" x H. Hannington, 179
" x Hector, 179
" x hirsuto-Sallierii, 199
" x Holidayanum, 199
" insigne, 53
" " Amesiae, 54
" " Bohnhoffianum, 54
" " clarissimum, 54
" " corrugatum, 55
" " Dimmockianum, 54
" " Dorothy, 55
" " Drewett's variety, 56
" " eximium, 56
" " Frederico, 55
" " Harefield Hall, 55
" " Hector, 56
" " Laura Kimball, 54
" " longisepalum, 54
" " Macfarlanei, 54
" " majesticum, 55
" " Measuresiae, 55
" " punctatum, 56
" " R. H. Measures, 55
" " Rona, 55
" " Sanderae, 56
" " Statterianum, 54
" x J. Coles, 200
" Javanicum, 199
" x Juno, 191
" x La France, 197
" x Lavinia, 200
" x Lawrebel, 197
" x " (Woodlands variety), 197
" x Lawrenceanum-Hyeanum, 198
" " Sir Trevor, 198
" leucochilum, 69
" x " giganteum, 199
" x Leysenianum, 199
" x Lily Measures, 197
" x Lord Derby, 192
" x M. Finet, 177
" x macropterum, 177
" x Marchioness of Salisbury, 199
" x Marshallianum, 199
" x Massaianum, 203
" x Measuresiae, 203
" x Measuresianum, 199
" x Miss Clara Measures, 203
" x Mrs. E. Cohen, 178
" x Mrs. E. G. Uihlein, 195
" x Mrs. Fred Hardy, 199
" x Mrs. Herbert Measures, 199
" x Mrs. W. A. Roebling, 202
" x Muriel Hollington, 200
" x Myra, 179
" x nitidum, 204
" x Olivia, 176
" x Paris, 201
" x Phoebe, 201
" platytaenium--Story, 205
" x Princess May, 201
" x Pylaeus, 201
" reticulatum, 202
" x Rowena, 201
" x Sade Lloyd, 191
" x Schofieldianum, 202
" x Sir Redvers Buller, 204
" x Southgatense, 203
" x " superbum, 203
" Spicerianum--Story, 213
" x Symonsianum, 200
" x Tautzianum lepidum, 194
" x Telemachus, 194
" x tesselatum porphyreum, 194
" venustum (Measures variety), 195
" x Watsonianum, 195
" x William Lloyd, 191
" x Winifred Hollington, 204
" x Woodlandsense, 195
" x Zeus, 196
Dendrobium x Ainsworthii, 110
" x Leechianum, 110
" Lowii--Story, 121
" nobile album, 110
" " Cooksoni, 110
" " murrhinianum, 110
" " Ruckerianum, 110
" " splendens grandiflorum, 110
" " virginale, 110
" phalaenopsis Schroederianum--Story, 113
" x Schneiderianum, 110
Epidendrum radicans, 110
" x radico-vitellinum, 111
Hybridisation--Remarks, 172
" Mr. Mead's experiments, 173
Laelia x Beatrice, 13
" x Claptonensis, 88
" elegans, 7
" " Adonis, 10
" " Amphion, 13
" " bella, 15
" " Blenheimensis, 13
" " Boadicea, 10
" " Cleopatra, 15
" " Doctor Ryan, 11
" " Empress, 10
" " euracheilos, 14
" " eximia, 15
" " F. Sander, 10
" " Frederico, 12
" " Godseffiana, 10
" " H. E. Moojen, 10
" " H. G. Gifkins, 10
" " haematochila, 11
" " Hallii, 14
" " incantans, 14
" " Juno, 13
" " Ladymead, 12
" " leucotata, 11
" " Lord Roberts, 16
" " Luciana, 12
" " luculenta, 12
" " Macfarlanei, 11
" " " II., 15
" " macroloba, 13
" " matuta, 13
" " Measuresiana, 12
" " Medusa, 10
" " melanochites, 14
" " Minerva, 13
" " Monica, 12
" " Morreniana, 13
" " Mrs. F. Sander, 10
" " Mrs. R. H. Measures, 11
" " Myersiana, 15
" " Neptune, 10
" " nyleptha, 11
" " Ophelia, 11
" " Oweniae, 14
" " paraleuka, 11
" " platychila, 12
" " Princess Stephanie, 13
" " Pyramus, 15
" " Red King, 10
" " Sade Lloyd, 11
" " Sappho, 15
" " Schilleriana, 14
" " " splendens, 12
" " Stella, 10
" " Stelzneriana, 12
" " Tautziana, 13
" " tenebrosa, 11
" " Venus, 12
" " Weathersiana, 14
" " Wolstenholmae, 15
" x Gravesiae, 88
" Jongheana, 249
" x Latona, 92
" x Measuresiana, 88
" Perrinii alba, 97
" " nivea, 97
" praestans alba, 32
" pumila marginata, 31
" purpurata, 107
" " Archduchess, 109
" " Lowiana, 109
" " Macfarlanei, 109
" " marginata, 109
" " tenebrosa, 109
" x Sanderae, 91
" x splendens, 91
" x Yula, 93
" x " inversa, 93
Laelio-Cattleya Albanensis, 91
" " amanda, 88
" " Amazon, 91
" " Amesiana, 93
" " Ancona, 88
" " Aphrodite, 91
" " Arnoldiana, 88
" " Bellairensis, 90
" " Broomfieldensis, 92
" " C.-G. Roebling, 92
" " callistoglossa, 92
" " " ignescens, 92
" " Canhamiana, 94
" " D. S. Brown, 92
" " Decia, 92
" " Empress of India, 94
" " Eudora, 93
" " " alba, 93
" " euspatha, 14
" " excellens, 91
" " Exoniensis, 93
" " Fire Queen, 89
" " Harold Measures, 11
" " Henry Greenwood, 94
" " Hippolyta, 93
" " Hon. Mrs. Astor, 91
" " Lady Wigan, 89
" " leucoglossa, 94
" " Mardellii fascinator, 92
" " Measuresiana, 88
" " Miss Lily Measures, 94
" " Nysa, 88
" " Pallas superba, 94
" " Robin Measures, 90
" " Tiresias, 88
" " " superba, 90
" " Tresederiana, 89
" " velutino-elegans, 94
" " Zephyra, 93
Laelio-Cattleyas unflowered and unnamed--List of, 95
Lycaste aromatica, 159
" Denningiana, 160
" fulvescens, 160
" leucantha, 159
" Locusta, 160
" Mooreana, 160
" plana lassioglossa, 159
" " Measuresiana, 160
" Skinneri alba, 159
" " Lady Roberts, 159
" " Phyllis, 159
Madagascar--Legend of, 99
Masdevallia abbreviata, 237
" amabilis, 237
" Bonplandii, 237
" caudata, 237
" Chelsoni, 237
" coccinea, 238
" Harryana Armeniaca, 237
" " Bull's Blood, 237
" " Denisoniana, 237
" " Sander's Scarlet, 237
" " splendens, 237
" " versicolor, 237
" ignea splendens, 237
" macrura, 238
" melanopus, 238
" peristeria, 238
" polysticta, 237
" Veitchii grandiflora, 237
" Wallisii stupenda, 238
Miltonia Binottii, 162
" vexillaria Cobbiana, 228
" " Measuresiana, 228
" " rubella, 228
Odontoglossum baphicanthum, 226
" Bictoniense album, 223
" coronarium, 225
" crispo-Harryanum, 225
" crispum Arthurianum, 225
" " aureum, 227
" " Chestertoni, 227
" " Cooksoni, 227
" " Dayanum, 228
" " magnificum, 223
" " Measuresiae, 223
" " Our Empress, 223
" " purpureum, 228
" " Reginae, 227
" " virginale, 223
" " Woodlandsense, 223
" cristatellum, 224
" Edithae, 223
" elegans, 223
" facetum, 224
" grande magnificum, 227
" Hallii leucoglossum, 224
" " magnificum, 224
" Harryanum--Story, 229
" Humeanum, 226
" Hunnewellianum, 223
" Josephinae, 223
" Lindeni, 226
" Madrense, 224
" mirandum, 224
" mulus, 222
" Murrellianum, 226
" Pescatorei album, 227
" " Germinyanum, 225
" " grandiflorum, 228
" " splendens, 228
" " violaceum, 228
" platycheilum, 226
" polyxanthum magnificum, 224
" Rossii aspersum, 227
" Ruckerianum, 222
" " splendens, 222
" sceptrum, 225
" Schillerianum, 226
" tripudians oculatum, 226
" vexillarium--_vide_ Miltonia
" Vuylstekeanum, 222
" Wallisii, 224
" Wilckeanum, 222
" " albens, 222
" " pallens, 222
" " Rothschildianum, 225
Oncidium lamelligerum, 239
" Loxense, 240
" ornithorhynchum album, 239
" splendidum--Story, 241
" tetracopis, 239
" undulatum, 239
" Weltoni, 240
Phaio-calanthe Arnoldiae, 130
Phajus x Ashworthianus, 130
" x Cooksoni, 130
" x Marthae, 130
" x Owenianus, 130
" x Phoebe, 130
Phalaenopsis, 67
" x Hebe, 68
" Sanderiana--Story, 79
Pothos aurea, 147
Roezl--Legend of, 17
Sobralia x Amesiana, 161
" Kienastiana--Story, 163
" Measuresiana, 161
" Sanderae, 161
" x Veitchii, 161
Spathoglottis x aureo-Veillardii, 111
Thunia Bensoniae, 131
" Marshalliana, 131
Vanda, 69
" x Miss Joaquim, 69
" Sanderiana--Story, 71
Zygo-colax leopardinus, 131
Zygopetalum x Perrenoudii, 131
THE END
_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_
Footnotes:
[1] It seems not unlikely that scholars may read this and misunderstand. I
am not ignorant that 'the Ancients' had frames, probably warmed
green-houses--since they flowered roses at mid-winter--and certainly
conservatories. But these facts do not bear upon the argument.
[2] Two or three years ago, however, the Government of New Granada made a
law forbidding such destruction of trees--a measure which has happily
reduced the output of orchids, since the natives are unwilling to climb
for them.
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
The misprint "ear" has been corrected to "are" (page 224).
Printer's inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation usage have been
retained from the original.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Woodlands Orchids, by Frederick Boyle