particular interest. Once or twice they saw Indians upon the shore; but
these, instead of putting off in their canoes, seemed frightened at so
large a craft, and remained by their "maloccas," or great
village-houses, in each of which several families live together. Not
caring to have any dealings with them, our travellers were only too glad
to get past without molestation; and, therefore, when they passed any
place where they thought they observed the signs of Indians on the bank,
they kept on for hours after, without stopping.
A curious incident occurred one evening as they were bringing the balza
to her moorings, which compelled them to drop a little farther
down-stream, and, in fact, almost obliged them to float all night, which
would have been a dangerous matter, as the current at the place happened
to be sharp and rapid.
They had been on the look-out for some time for a good camping-place, as
it was their usual hour to stop. No opening, however, appeared for
several miles. The banks on both sides were thickly-wooded to the
river's edge, and the branches of the trees even drooped into the water.
At length they came in sight of a natural raft that had been formed by
drift-wood in a bend of the stream; and as the logs lay thickly
together, and even piled upon each other, it appeared an excellent place
to encamp on. It was, at all events, better than to attempt to
penetrate the thick jungles which met them everywhere else; and so the
balza was directed towards the raft, and soon floated alongside it.
They had already got ashore on the raft, which was dry and firm, and
would have served their purpose well enough; when, all at once, Guapo
was heard uttering one of those exclamations, which showed that all was
not right. The rest looked towards him for an explanation. He was
standing by the edge of the floating timber, just where the balza
touched it, with his arms stretched out in an attitude that betokened
trouble. They all ran up. They saw what was the matter at a glance.
Thousands of red ants were climbing from the raft to the balza!
Thousands,--nay, it would be nearer the truth to say millions!
At one glance Don Pablo saw that it would be a terrible calamity, should
these creatures gain a lodgment on the balza. Not only were they the
dreaded stinging ants, but in a short time nothing on board would be
left. In a few hours they would have eaten all his stores,--his bark,
his vanilla, and his roots. Already quite a number had got upon the
canoe, and were crossing it toward the body of the balza.
Without saying another word, he ordered all to get on board as quickly
as possible, each taking some utensil that had already been carried on
shore. He and Guapo flew to the poles; and, having hastily unfastened
and drawn in the cable, they pushed the balza out into the stream. Then
while Guapo managed the great oar, Don Pablo, assisted by Leon and by
Dona Isidora, went to work with scoops and pails, dashing water upon the
ants; until every one of them had disappeared, drowned in the canoe or
washed off into the river. Fortunate for them, they had observed this
strange enemy in time. Had they not done so--in other words, had they
gone to sleep, leaving the balza where it was during the night--they
would have awakened in the morning to find their stores completely
destroyed, their labour of a year brought to nothing in the space of a
single night. This is no uncommon occurrence to the merchant or the
colonist of tropical America.
They had made a narrow escape, but a fortunate one. They were not
without their troubles, however. No open ground could be found for
miles below; and, as it was growing dark, they approached the
thickly-wooded bank; and, after a good deal of scratching among the
branches, at length succeeded in making the cable fast to a tree. The
balza then swung round, and floated at the end of the cable, half of it
being buried under the long hanging branches.
They spent their night on board, for it was no use attempting to get on
shore through the underwood; and even if they had, they could not have
encamped very comfortably in a thicket. On the other hand, the balza
did not afford the best accommodation for sleeping. The little "toldo,"
or cabin, was not large enough to swing a hammock in. It would only
contain a few persons seated close together; and it had been built more
for the purpose of keeping the sun off during the hot hours of the day
than for sleeping in. The rest of the balza was occupied with the
freight; and this was so arranged with sloping sides, thatched with the
bussu-leaves, that there was no level place where one could repose upon
it. The night, therefore, was passed without very much sleep having
been obtained by any one of the party. Of course, the moment the first
streaks of day began to appear along the Eastern sky, they were all
awake and ready to leave their disagreeable anchorage.
As they were making preparations to untie the cable, they noticed that
just below where the balza lay, a horizontal limb stretched far out over
the river. It was the lowermost limb of a large zamang-tree, that stood
on the bank close to the edge of the water. It was not near the
surface, but a good many feet above. Still it was not certain that it
was high enough for the roof of the toldo to clear it. That was an
important question; for although the current was not very rapid just
there, it was sufficiently so to carry the balza under this branch
before they could push it out into the stream. Once the cable was let
go, they must inevitably pass under the limb of the zamang; and if that
caught the toldo, it would sweep off the frail roof like so much
spider's-web. This would be a serious damage; and one to be avoided, if
possible.
Don Pablo and Guapo went to the end of the balza nearest the branch, and
stood for some time surveying it. It was about eight or ten yards
distant; but in the grey dawn they could not judge correctly of its
height, and they waited till it grew a little clearer. At length they
came to the conclusion that the branch was high enough. The long
pendulous leaves--characteristic of this great _mimosa_--and the
drooping branchlets hung down much below the main shaft; but these, even
if they touched the roof, would do no injury. It was, therefore,
determined to let go the cable.
It was now clear day, for they had been delayed a good while; but at
length all was ready, and Guapo untied the cable, and drew the end on
board. The balza began to move; slowly at first, for the current under
the bushes was very slight.
All at once the attention of the voyagers was called to the strange
conduct of the pet monkey. That little creature was running to and fro,
first upon the roof of the toldo, then down again, all the while
uttering the most piercing shrieks as if something was biting off its
tail! It was observed to look forward and upward toward the branch of
the zamang, as if the object it dreaded was in that quarter. The eyes
of all were suddenly bent in the same direction. What was their horror
on beholding, stretched along the branch, the hideous body of an
enormous serpent! Only part of it could be seen; the hinder half and
the tail were hidden among the bromelias and vines that in huge masses
clustered around the trunk of the zamang, and the head was among the
leaflets of the mimosa; but what they saw was enough to convince them
that it was a snake of the largest size--the great "_water-boa_"--the
_anaconda_!
That part of the body in sight was full as thick as a man's thigh, and
covered with black spots or blotches upon a ground of dingy yellow. It
was seen to glisten as the animal moved, for the latter was in motion,
crawling along the branch _outward_! The next moment its head appeared
under the pendulous leaves; and its long forking tongue, protruding
several inches from its mouth, seemed to feel the air in front of it.
This tongue kept playing backwards and forwards, and its viscid covering
glittered under the sunbeam, adding to the hideous appearance of the
monster.
To escape from passing within its reach would be impossible. The balza
was gliding directly under it! It could launch itself aboard at will.
It could seize upon any one of the party without coming from the branch.
It could coil its body around them, and crush them with the
constricting power of its muscles. It could do all this; for it had
crushed before now the tapir, the roebuck, perhaps even the jaguar
himself.
All on board the boat knew its dangerous power too well; and, of course,
terror was visible in every countenance.
Don Pablo seized the axe, and Guapo laid hold of his _machete_. Dona
Isidora, Leon, and the little Leona, were standing--fortunately they
were--by the door of the toldo; and, in obedience to the cries and
hurried gestures of Don Pablo and the Indian, they rushed in and flung
themselves down. They had scarcely disappeared inside, when the forward
part of the balza upon which stood Don Pablo and Guapo, came close to
the branch, and the head of the serpent was on a level with their own.
Both aimed their blows almost at the same instant; but their footing was
unsteady, the boa drew back at the moment, and both missed their aim.
The next moment the current had carried them out of reach, and they had
no opportunity of striking a second blow.
The moment they had passed the hideous head again dropped down, and hung
directly over, as if waiting. It was a moment of intense anxiety to Don
Pablo. His wife and children! Would it select one as its victim, and
leave the others? or--
He had but little time for reflection. Already the head of the snake
was within three feet of the toldo door. Its eyes were glaring--it was
about to dart down.
"Oh, God, have mercy!" exclaimed Don Pablo, falling upon his knees.
"Oh, God!"
At that moment a loud scream was heard. It came from the toldo; and, at
the same instant, the saimiri was seen leaping out from the door. Along
with the rest, it had taken shelter within; but just as the head of the
snake came in sight, a fresh panic seemed to seize upon it; and, as if
under the influence of fascination, it leaped screaming in the direction
of the terrible object. It was met halfway. The wide jaws closed upon
it, its shrieks were stifled, and the next moment its silken body, along
with the head of the anaconda, disappeared among the leaves of the
mimosa. Another moment passed, and the balza swept clear of the branch,
and floated triumphantly into the open water.
Don Pablo sprang to his feet, ran into the toldo, and, after embracing
his wife and children, knelt down and offered thanks to God for their
almost miraculous deliverance.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
A BATCH OF CURIOUS TREES.
Of course the escape from danger so imminent, after the first moments
were over, produced a sort of reaction in the feelings of all, and they
were now rather joyous than otherwise. But with all there was a mixture
of regret when they thought of the fate of little "titi." It had been
their only pet, and had grown to be such a favourite that its loss was
now mourned by every one, and its absence caused them to feel as though
one of the company had been left behind. Several times during that day
poor "titi" was the subject of conversation; indeed, they could hardly
talk about anything else. Little Leona was quite inconsolable; for the
pretty creature had loved Leona, and used to perch on her shoulder by
the hour, and draw her silken ringlets through its tiny hand, and place
its dainty little nose against the rich velvet of her cheek, and play
off all sorts of antics with her ears. Many an hour did "titi" and
Leona spend together. No wonder that the creature was missed.
During the whole of that day they travelled through a country covered
with dense forest. The river was a full half-mile wide, but sometimes
there were islands, and then the current became narrowed on each side,
so that in passing, the balza almost touched the trees on one side or
the other. They saw many kinds of trees growing together, and rarely a
large tract covered with any one species of timber, for this, as already
remarked, is a peculiarity of the Amazon forests. Many new and curious
trees were noticed, of which Don Pablo gave short botanical descriptions
to the others, partly to instruct them, and partly to while away the
hours. Guapo, at the rudder, listened to these learned lectures, and
sometimes added some information of his own about the properties of the
trees, and the uses to which they were put by the Indians. This is what
is termed the popular part of the science of botany, and, perhaps, it is
more important than the mere classification of genera and species, which
is usually all the information that you get from the learned and
systematic botanists.
Among the trees passed to-day was one called the "volador"
(_gyrocarpus_). This is a large forest tree, with lobed leaves, of a
heart-shape. But it is the seeds which are curious, and which give to
the tree the odd name of "volador," or "flier." These seeds have each a
pair of membranaceous and striated wings, which, when the seeds fall,
are turned to meet the air at an angle of 45 degrees; and thus a
rotatory motion is produced, and the falling seeds turn round and round
like little fly-wheels. It is altogether a curious sight when a large
volador is shaken in calm weather, to see the hundreds of seeds whirling
and wheeling towards the ground, which they take a considerable time in
reaching. The volador is not confined to South America, I have seen it
in Mexico, and other parts of North America.
Another singular tree noticed was a tree of the barberry family
(_berberis_), known among the Spanish-Americans as _barba de tigre_, or
"tiger's beard." This name it derives from the fact of its trunk--which
is very large and high--being thickly set all over with sharp, branching
thorns, that are fancied to resemble the whiskers of the jaguar, or
South American "tiger."
A third remarkable tree (or bush) observed was the _Bixa orellana_,
which yields the well-known _arnatto_ dye. This bush is ten or twelve
feet in height, and its seeds grow in a burr-like pericarp. These seeds
are covered with a reddish pulp, which produces the dye. The mode of
making it is simple. The Indian women throw the seeds into a vessel of
hot water, and stir them violently for about an hour, until they have
taken off the pulp. The water is then poured off, and the deposit,
separated from the seeds, is mixed with oil of turtle-eggs, or crocodile
fat, and kneaded into cakes of three or four ounces weight. It is then
"anoto," sometimes written "arnatto," sometimes "arnotto," sometimes
"onoto," and sometimes "anato." The first is the proper spelling. In
Brazil it is called "urucu," whence the French name "rocou;" and the
Peruvians have still another designation for it, "achote." Of course
each tribe of Indians calls it by a separate name. The botanic name,
_Bixa_, is the ancient name by which it was known to the Indians of
Hayti, for it is found in most parts of tropical America growing wild,
although it is also cultivated. It is an article in great demand among
all the Indians of South America, who use it for painting their bodies,
and dyeing the cotton cloth of which they make their garments.
But these people are very skilful in drawing pigments from plants and
trees of many kinds; in fact, their practical chemistry, so far as it
relates to dyes and poisons, is quite surprising, and from time to time
Guapo pointed out trees that were used by them for such purposes.
One was a climbing plant, whose tendrils reached to the tops of the
highest trees. It had beautiful violet-coloured flowers, an inch long,
and Don Pablo saw that it was a species of _bignonia_. Guapo called it
"chica." When in fruit it carries a pod two feet in length, full of
winged seeds. But Guapo said it was not from the seeds that the dye was
obtained, but from the leaves, which turn red when macerated in water.
The colouring matter comes out of the leaves in the form of a light
powder, and is then shaped into cakes, which sell among the Indians for
the value of a dollar each. This colour has a tinge of lake in it, and
is prized even more highly than the anoto. Indeed, red dyes among all
savage nations seem to hold a higher value than those of any other
colour.
Another dye-tree was the "huitoc." This one is a slender tree, about
twenty feet high, with broad leaves shooting out from the stem, and nuts
growing at their bases, after the manner of the bread-fruit. These nuts
resemble black walnuts, and are of a russet colour outside; but the pulp
inside, which produces the huitoc, is of a dark blue, or purple tint.
The "wild indigo tree," was also seen growing in the woods, with a leaf
narrow at the base, and broad at the extremity. With these and many
other dyes the Indians of the Montana paint their bodies in fantastic
modes. So much are they addicted to these customs, that, among the
Indians who labour at the missions, some have been known to work nearly
a month to procure paint enough to give their body a single coat, and
the missionaries have made a merchandise of this gigantic folly. But
the paint is not always to be looked upon in the light of a mere folly,
or vanity. Sometimes it is used to keep off the "zancudos," or
mosquitoes, so numerous and annoying in these regions.
Another singular tree was observed, which Guapo called the "marima," or
"shirt-tree." The use of this he explained. The tree stands fifty or
sixty feet high, with a diameter of from two to three. When they find
them of this size, the Indians cut them down, and then separate the
trunk into pieces of about three feet long. From these pieces they
strip the bark, but without making any longitudinal incision, so that
the piece of bark when taken off is a hollow cylinder. It is thin and
fibrous, of a red colour, and looks like a piece of coarsely-woven
sack-cloth. With this the shirt is made, simply by cutting two holes in
the sides to admit the arms, and the body being passed into it, it is
worn in time of rain. Hence the saying of the old missionaries, that in
the "forests of America garments were found ready-made on the trees."
Many other trees were noticed valuable for their fruits, or leaves, or
bark, or roots, or their wood. There was the well-known "seringa," or
India-rubber tree; the great courbaril, the "dragon's-blood" tree, not
that celebrated tree of the East (_Draccena_), but one of a different
genus (_Crotori_), from whose white bark flows a red blood-like juice.
They saw, also, a species of cinnamon-tree (_Laurus cinnamonoides_),
though not the cinnamon of commerce; the large tree that bears the
Brazilian nutmeg (the Puxiri); and that one, also, a large forest tree,
that bears the nuts known as "Tonka beans," and which are used in the
flavouring of snuff.
But of all the trees which our travellers saw on that day, none made
such an impression upon them as the "juvia," or Brazil-nut tree
(_Bertholletia excelsa_). This tree is not one with a thick trunk; in
fact, the largest ones are not three feet in diameter, but it rises to a
height of 120 feet. Its trunk is branchless for more than half that
height, and the branches then spread out and droop, like the fronds of
the palm. They are naked near their bases, but loaded towards the top
with tufts of silvery green leaves, each two feet in length. The tree
does not blossom until its fifteenth year, and then it bears
violet-coloured flowers; although there is another species, the
"sapucaya," which has yellow ones. But it is neither the trunk, nor the
branches, nor the leaves, nor yet the flowers of this tree, that render
it such an object of curiosity. It is the great woody and spherical
pericarps that contain the nuts or fruits that are wonderful. These are
often as large as the head of a child, and as hard as the shell of the
cocoa-nut! Inside is found a large number--twenty or more--of those
triangular-shaped nuts which you may buy at any Italian warehouse under
the name of "Brazil-nuts."
CHAPTER FORTY TWO.
THE FOREST FESTIVAL.
In consequence of their having rested but poorly on the preceding night,
it was determined that they should land at an early hour; and this they
did, choosing an open place on the shore. It was a very pretty spot,
and they could see that the woods in the background were comparatively
open, as though there were some meadows or prairies between. These
openings, however, had been caused by fire. There had been a growth of
cane. It had been burned off and as yet was not grown up again, though
the young reeds were making their appearance like a field of green
wheat. Some places, and especially near the river, the ground was still
bare. This change in the landscape was quite agreeable to our
travellers; so much so, that they resolved to exercise their limbs by
taking a short stroll; and, having finished their late dinner they set
out. They all went together, leaving the balza and camp to take care of
themselves.
After walking a few hundred yards their ears were assailed by a confused
noise, as if all the animals in the forest had met and were holding a
_conversazione_. Some low bushes prevented them from seeing what it
meant, but on pushing their way through, they saw whence and from what
sort of creatures the noise proceeded.
Standing out in the open ground was a large and tall juvia-tree. Its
spreading branches were loaded with great globes as big as human heads--
each one, of course, full of delicious nuts. These were now ripe, and
some of them had already fallen to the ground.
Upon the ground an odd scene presented itself to the eyes of our
travellers. Between birds and animals assembled there, there were not
less than a dozen kinds, all as busy as they could be.