THE NEW TOWN SITE. THE WATER WHEEL AND THE SAWMILL
The Professor and his party immediately left for the Brabos' village,
and before noon of the next day, Uraso, with the wagons and package
train, came in sight. The warriors, together with the chiefs, and the
two boys, Jim and Will, rushed to meet them, leaving the Professor and
Chief Suros almost deserted. They smiled at the eagerness of all. They
were just like boys.
When the procession from the village came up they surrounded the wagon
and Uraso's warriors, and took the packages from the carriers, bearing
them in triumph to the village, and passed before the Professor and
Suros. The boys began the dancing, and the warriors took up the
suggestion, and improved on it. The hilarity knew no bounds.
Uraso was the first to tell the warriors who were with him of the
surrender of the Kurabus. This acted like a stimulant to the assembly.
Later in the day, when peace and order had been restored, the Professor
addressed them as follows: "Suros and I have enjoyed the dance and the
joys you have had as much as you who have taken part in it. We are both
so happy to know that you have become brothers. When we leave this
village the Brabos will know that they are safe from all harm, and that
their enemy is our enemy, and that if anyone in either of the tribes is
injured it is the duty of all the tribes to come to his aid.
"You must also know that everyone has a right to his own property. If I
should take anything from one of you I ought to be punished. Everyone
should be made to know this. If a Saboro takes anything from an Osaga
without his consent, the Saboros should be the first to punish him, and
if they do not then the other tribes should punish him.
"We are bringing all the tools from our village, so that we can teach
you how to make many wonderful things. We must find a suitable place to
put up the machinery. Each tribe will send some of their people there to
learn, and then the same things will be put up in your own lands.
To-morrow we will go south to establish this place."
There was one thing which was a source of grief to the boys, and that
was the herd of yaks, which had been left behind. John spoke to Uraso
about it, and Sutoto, who always considered the boys first, suggested
that he and Muro would take two dozen of the warriors and bring the herd
back.
The boys would have enjoyed this outing with him, but the necessity of
utilizing their services in the erection of the workshop and installing
the machinery, was too urgent to permit it. The boys made it a
condition, however, that Sutoto should be with them in the active work,
as soon, as he returned.
The Brabos regretted the leave-taking, but were delighted to learn from
the Professor that he expected them to contribute a number of their men
to accompany the expedition.
They passed through the Kurabus' village the next day, and the Professor
called the Chief to him. "We want some of your men to accompany us,
because we want to teach them the same as the other tribes."
This announcement was a most gratifying one, and he answered: "The White
Chief has made us give him our hearts. My brother and my son will go
with you."
Could anything have been more expressive of the intention of the Kurabus
Chief? The lad was about the same age as the boys, and they led him out
to the wagon, and showed him the wonderful things, and then began the
efforts to find words to express their meaning, and enable them to
understand each other.
It was an amusing thing to see the struggles of Blakely, who was
whipping the warriors into a fighting force. Whenever Blakely was around
the warriors would give him the military salute, as though they had been
trained up to it all their lives.
"I have often wondered where the military salute of raising the hand up
to the eyebrows comes from," said Ralph.
"Its origin dates from the commencement of the English army. During the
tournaments of the Middle Ages, after the 'Queen of Beauty' was
enthroned, the knights, who were to take part in the sports of the day,
marched past the dais upon which she sat, and, as they passed, shielded
their eyes from the rays of her beauty. Thus the habit continued, only
in a modified form, to this day."
[Illustration: _Fig. 5. The Banyan Tree._]
Uraso had charge of the advance, and when they halted that day it was
under the spreading shade of a tree that was a marvel to the boys,
although Blakely said there were plenty of them in the southern part of
the island.
This was a tree, with a large central trunk, the branches of which
spread out in all directions, to distances which were fully fifty feet
on each side, and at irregular intervals were straight stems which shot
down straight to the earth, the lower ends of which took root and thus
served as supports for the long branches.
The boys went around, examining it from all sides. "What is it?" asked
the boys.
"It is the banyan tree," answered John. "This is not the only kind which
exhibits this peculiarity. What is called the screw pine also sends down
shoots in the same way."
"Well, does each of these vertical stems become a tree of itself?"
"In the case of the mangrove these aerials, as they are called, carry up
the sap, and form leaves at their upper ends, long after the main trunk
dies."
"Do you mean that these drooping branches carry up the sap in the
opposite direction, after they take root?"
"Yes; but that is not so remarkable, when it is understood that the buds
of all trees are, in a measure, roots, and perform the same functions as
roots. The plum tree, and many others, will form roots out of the buds,
if the latter are buried in the earth."
"I have heard about the orchids, as I believe they are called. Do they
act in the same way?"
"Not altogether; there are certain plants which live on other plants and
get sustenance from them, just as some insects attach themselves to
animals and live on them."
"There is one thing I could never understand," remarked Tom, "and that
is, why the sap of the trees goes upwardly."
"I shall try and answer that question by asking another. If you put the
end of a piece of blotting paper in water, what causes the water to
travel along to the other end?"
"That is just as much a mystery," he replied.
"But as you know that to be so, because you can see the process, it will
enable me to explain the principle of the movement of the sap. A wick in
a lamp becomes saturated and the oil travels upwardly as long as the
upper end is burning; but as soon as the light is put out the oil ceases
to creep toward the burned end."
"But in the case of a tree there is nothing to do that same thing."
"That is what the sun does. It shines on the leaf, and absorbs the sap,
or portions of it, and the sap tries to move upwardly to again moisten
the dried pores of the wood."
"I always thought the sap moved upwardly, because the tree was alive."
"The blotting paper and the wick are not alive, are they? Still, you see
the same process going on. This is due to what is termed capillary
attraction. Suppose you take two tubes, one larger than the other, each
open at both ends, and stand them in water. The water will rise in the
tubes above the surface of the water outside, and the height it rises
depends on the inside diameters of the tubes. The smaller the bore the
higher will the water go up. So with the pores in the wood. They are
very small, and thus the water moves to the greatest heights."
It was now a question of the greatest importance to set up their home at
the most desirable point. The Chiefs, together with John and Blakely,
had numerous conferences with the Professor, on this subject. Many
things had to be taken into consideration.
First: It should be located at a point convenient to all the tribes.
Second: It should be on or near the seacoast.
[Illustration: _Fig. 6. Showing Capillary Attraction._]
Third: Everything else being equal, the most desirable place would be in
a section which had the richest soil.
These considerations were suggested to the Chiefs, and all agreed that
the river separating the land of the Osagas and the Berees would be most
suitable.
"I know a place," said Uraso, "where there is a running water like you
have at the Cataract, and it is a little river that flows into the big
river."
"Does the water go down steep as we had it?"
"Yes," answered Uraso.
"Let us go there at once," responded the Professor.
Within two days the spot was reached, and at the sight of it all were
pleased beyond measure.
"It is an ideal spot," exclaimed John. "The falls would be much better
for our purpose than the Cataract, and it is close to the river. As the
latter has ample depth for good-sized boats, and the sea is not more
than three miles away, I judge, we are near enough to carry out the
purpose of building the large vessel."
No conferences were required to make the decision. "Your judgment is to
be commended," said the Professor to Uraso. "I do not think there is a
better spot on the island."
"It suits me," said Blakely. "See the forest to the northwest? That is
where I used to live. I know the boys will enjoy exploring it, and if
they want excitement at any time, it is near enough to give them plenty
of exercise."
The boys' eyes glistened with excitement at the news. "Won't we have fun
over there, when we are fixed up!" said Will.
The Professor, addressing the Chiefs, said: "We do not need all the men
we have here, as they will no doubt be needed for a time at their homes,
in order to take care of the women and children. For the present I
suggest that one-half of them be sent home, and the others remain here,
and get the work started. This will take several moons, and we must then
meet, unless we hear from the Illyas sooner, and march against them."
The chiefs selected the ones which were to remain, and those instructed
to return home were advised that later on they would be brought to the
new village, to take their part in the work, and thus give an
opportunity to all.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and each tribe tried to outdo the
other in generous acts. The example set by the Professor was, indeed, a
lesson to these poor, ignorant creatures.
"Professor, what shall we do when the herd arrives? I think we had
better fence in a field for them until they get used to the people and
learn, to remain in this part of the country."
"I am glad that you suggested that, Ralph. You may build a fence to hold
them, and I suggest that you use the space in the forks of the river."
"How many men shall I take for the purpose?"
"As Sutoto will likely be here to-morrow, or on the following day, you
should take enough to do it quickly. Use at least fifty of them. Stut
would be the one to call in for help."
"What kind of a fence shall we build?"
"I will make a sketch of the best form for the present. Have some of the
men cut posts that have several forks like the sketch shows. Cut these
off at lengths so that one fork will be about two feet up out of the
ground, and the other five feet or a little more above. Set others to
work cutting the long poles, which you will find along; the river
bank."
"How long should we make the poles?"
"Get them as long as you can; but make them, say, nine, eighteen or
twenty-seven feet long. Then, at the same time, others can be digging
the post holes, and make those eight feet apart and two feet deep. When
the posts are set, the men with the poles can go along and lay them in
place, just as I show."
[Illustration: _Fig. 7. Sample of Island Fence._]
The warriors took the bolos and sallied down to the stream. Ralph had
made a mental calculation that at least one hundred posts would be
required; the line of the fence was laid out and the holes marked. Muro
took charge of the digging of the holes, and the men showed a wonderful
aptitude for the work. During the afternoon the Professor wandered down
to the line, and went among them, speaking words of cheer and
commendation to all, so that he impressed his wonderful personality on
every man.
Meanwhile Harry, with the other boys, was at work preparing a new water
wheel. In this he had the aid of Uraso, as the director general of the
men. Many hands make light work. In a single day the wheel was ready
for mounting. The dried lumber which had been brought over was a great
advantage in making it, and in preparing the bridge below the falls on
which the wheel was mounted.
This was completed on the evening of the second day, just as Sutoto came
into view with the cattle. It was an amusing sight to see how they had
brought over the herd.
Apollo was the name of the bull which had the terrific fight with the
old bull. The first thing Sutoto did was to catch Apollo, and firmly
secure him with hobbles. He was led in front, and the others driven
along after him, the rest following meekly.
When Apollo was finally loosened, and allowed the freedom of the corral,
he gave a roar, pawed up the ground and shook his head at the indignant
treatment.
Their appearance meant milk and butter. There were thirty-five in the
herd, of which ten were young animals, from four to six months of age,
and six calves, the latter of which retarded the movement of the drove
on the route.
Early in the morning the wheel was put up, and it began to turn, to the
delight of the men.
"It would be better, Harry, to set up the sawmill at once, as I have
directed a number of men to go to the forest with John, to cut the logs,
and they will take the two teams along, so that by the time you are
ready, the material will be here for you."
"What shall I cut first?"
"Get out the scantlings for the house and shop, as the latter will be
the first to receive our attention. We must have some place to put the
things we have in the wagons."
It is remarkable how quickly a set of men, working under intelligent
directions, can carry out a purpose. The logs began coming in shortly
after noon, and in the morning the saw was at work, and it did not cease
its operations for many a day.
The natives were so fascinated with it that they considered it a grief
to leave it. But the Professor had other purposes in view. George and
Tom were selected to make several looms, similar to the one brought from
the Cataract. In this work, as in everything else, some particular ones
were selected and instructed to do the work.
Ramie fiber was found in abundance, along the streams, and after a set
of men had been instructed how to cut and gather it, they were kept at
that work, while others were directed how to wet it down and rot the
woody fiber and taught the manner in which the fiber was freed of the
stalks.