A SUCCESSFUL EMBASSY.
During his previous visit to the Darien region Mr. Paterson had gained
some knowledge of the native language, and this now stood him and his
companions in good stead, as it caused them to be received not only
with kindness, but with honour, by the Indians when they met them.
It was towards the close of their second day's journey that the quick
ear of Donalblane, who was in the lead with the guides, caught a sound
that was different from anything he had hitherto heard.
"Eh! but is na that music?" he cried, turning to the nearest guide, who
smiled assent, although in truth he did not understand the question.
"I maun gang and tell Mr. Paterson;" and he raced back with the
information.
Mr. Paterson was very pleased at the news, for he understood it to mean
that the report of their expedition had preceded them, and that the
Indians were coming to welcome them in their own way; and so it proved,
for the music grew louder as they advanced, until, on entering one of
the long forest aisles, they beheld a group of musicians playing upon
reeds, accompanied by a chorus who joined in from time to time with a
kind of musical humming.
Donalblane's eyes opened wide at this. He had never expected to find
an orchestra and a choral society among savages, and he expressed his
surprise to Mr. Sutherland, who smilingly replied--
"Don't be astonished at anything in this strange New World, my lad. It
is as full of wonders as it is of perils."
When the Scotsmen had come up to them, the musicians changed their
march into a curious kind of dance, which continued until they crossed
a small savannah and drew near a lofty grove standing by itself, within
whose recesses it was understood the king awaited his visitors.
Then the dancing ceased, the music resumed, and there issued from the
grove a bevy of graceful girls, glittering with golden ornaments, and
carrying garlands of flowers which they threw over the necks of Mr.
Paterson and his companions, not neglecting Donalblane, who blushed to
the roots of his sandy hair at this unlooked-for adornment.
Guided by them, the visitors at length were ushered into the presence
of the King of Darien, and Donalblane caught his breath at the imposing
sight. Seated upon a huge throne of mahogany logs, decked with Spanish
crimson cloth, and wearing a great crown of gold, the dusky
potentate--albeit his robes were only of some light cotton stuff, and
big shining rings dangled from his ears and nose--looked every inch a
king.
So royal indeed was his appearance that the Scotsmen, moved by a common
impulse, not only bowed, but knelt before him, which mark of respect
evidently impressed his Majesty very favourably. Standing about him
were fine-looking men, whose stature was heightened by diadems of the
gold plumage of the mocking-bird, out of which rose two long feathers
from the scarlet macaw. They leaned upon gleaming spears, and were no
doubt ready to execute the commands of their master for life or death.
Thanks to Mr. Paterson's acquaintance with the native language, there
was no need of an interpreter, and he proceeded to explain the purpose
of his visit.
"We are come," said he, "from the other side of the globe to greet you,
O King! We are come as friends, not as enemies. We would take nothing
from you without due payment. We offer to purchase from you sufficient
land for our settlement, and we want not only your land, but your
friendship. If you treat us kindly, if you deal with us honourably, we
will help to make you and your people greater and richer, and we will
also aid you against your enemies. We will be your allies; and if you
are attacked, our guns and our swords will be at your service, for your
cause will be ours. What say you, O King?" And without waiting for a
response, the shrewd leader of the expedition proceeded to exhibit the
presents of beads, trinkets, and scarlet cloth which he had brought.
The dignity of the monarch was not entirely proof against this tempting
display. His dark eyes gleamed with eager desire, and it was by a
manifest effort that he controlled the impulse to make a hasty descent
from the throne in order to take the presents into his royal hands.
Suddenly the ceremony, which had been proceeding so auspiciously, was
interrupted by an extraordinary disturbance that thoroughly startled
every member of the visiting party save Mr. Paterson.
During the progress of the solemn function there had gathered in the
trees overhead a curious congregation, to wit, a large troop of
monkeys, whose curiosity had evidently been excited by what was going
on below. They came in thousands, leaping from bough to bough, and
from tree to tree, until they assembled right above the king and his
visitors.
Here they remained tolerably quiet for awhile, until, just as his
Majesty was about to reply to Mr. Paterson, the impudent intruders
broke into a deafening chorus of chattering and screaming which made
every other sound inaudible. Not only so, but, in utter fearlessness
of human presence, they began a series of wild antics, which culminated
in their forming living chains, one holding on to the other's tail, and
then they let themselves down from the lofty trees until they were
actually within reach of the people below.
One of these animated chains swung to and fro so near to Donalblane
that he thought the grinning, grasping creatures meant to attack him,
and he drew his cutlass to strike at them, when happily Mr. Paterson
divined his intention, and with a quick movement caught his arm.
"Let them alone, my lad," he said almost sternly. "They will do you no
harm. They are sacred here. Be careful."
It was well he had been so quick, for already some of the stalwart
attendants of the king had observed Donalblane, and were lifting their
long spears menacingly.
Donalblane's weapon went back into its sheath; and, bracing himself up,
he said under his breath--
"Ye grinning loons, ye'll not scairt me, but gin ye do lay hands on me,
I'll gi'e ye a clout that'll teach ye manners."
The uneasiness of the Scotsmen at the monkeys' antics must have been
amusing enough to the natives, who not only tolerated the saucy
creatures, but looked upon them as sacred, and therefore regarded their
appearance on the scene as a favourable omen; in fact, nothing more
fortunate for the success of the embassy could have occurred. The
pawarress, or priests, were particularly pleased. So, too, was the
king; and when at last the monkeys, doubling up their chains again,
returned to the tree-tops and scampered off in high glee, both he and
the priests were ready to enter into negotiations.
A treaty was accordingly drawn up and ratified, whereby full freedom
was given to the Scots to settle in the land and enjoy it, and between
them and the natives there was declared to be peace "as long as rivers
ran, and gold was found in Darien." Then followed a banquet prepared
and served in true native style. The roast flesh of the peccary,
broiled fish from the mountain streams, and luscious fruit from the
trees all around composed the bill of fare; and the hungry visitors
needed no urging until there was produced the dish of honour, being a
huge lizard, called the iguana, carefully baked and served up with
tomato sauce.
One look at it was quite sufficient to make the Scotsmen suddenly lose
their appetites. With one consent they began to invent excuses for
letting the tempting dish go by them. All except Mr. Paterson. He had
tasted iguana before and knew it was not at all unsavoury. Moreover,
good manners required that this item should not be treated with
disgust. So he bravely helped himself to a goodly slice, and when it
came round to Donalblane, he, by way of atoning for his mistake in
regard to the monkeys, did likewise.
It was a hard job getting down the first morsel, but the flesh proving
white, firm, and of fine quality, with a flavour somewhat resembling
chicken, he actually managed to polish off his portion, being rewarded
therefor by a look of warm approval from Mr. Paterson.
The following morning the embassy set forth on their return to the
coast, attended by all the honours and marks of goodwill that had
marked their arrival; but before they reached their destination
Donalblane had an adventure that came within an ace of costing him his
life.
The purpose of their mission having been so satisfactorily
accomplished, Mr. Paterson readily assented to the request of his
companions, that they should linger on the way back in order to enjoy
some hunting.
This delighted Donalblane, who was impatient to try what he could do as
a sportsman, and, in company with Mr. Sutherland and a native guide, he
set out joyously. There was no lack of game to be feared. From the
harmless iguana or more attractive _corrosou_ (wild turkey) up to the
fierce wild boar or terrible panther or jaguar, the forest simply
swarmed with fair subjects for his bullets. It was only a question of
picking and choosing. Following their guide he and Mr. Sutherland had
been tramping for several hours, and securing a creditable "bag," when,
feeling weary, they threw themselves down to rest under a big tree, and
quite naturally fell sound asleep. An hour slipped by, and Donalblane,
from a troubled dream, awoke to find glaring down upon him from an
upper branch the most appalling eyes he had ever beheld. Their baleful
gleam seemed to freeze his blood. He was for the moment paralysed. He
could not turn aside to glance at his companions, who lay like logs a
few feet away, and his tongue refused to act. He could just discern
through the deep shade a great dark body crouched behind the eyes, and
his instinct told him that the most dreaded denizen of the forest--the
black panther--was preparing to spring upon him!
[Illustration: "GLARING DOWN UPON HIM ... THE MOST APPALLING EYES HE
HAD EVER BEHELD."]