A HARD STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF THE FOREST--ANTONIO FINDS SOME
CHERIMOIAS--OUR ESCAPE FROM THE WOOD--DANCING AT A MARRIAGE-FEAST--
HOSPITABLE ENTERTAINMENT--GUIDES--DOWN THE RIVER IN A CANOE--THE
SPANIARDS AHEAD--WE CAMP, AND WAIT TO PASS THEM AT NIGHT--AGAIN
EMBARKED--THE SPANISH CAMP--A NARROW ESCAPE--WE REACH THE CAUCA--WE
CROSS TO THE LEFT BANK, AND SEE JUAN WITH A PARTY OF CAVALRY ON THE
RIGHT BANK--PACHECO SWIMS ACROSS THE RIVER, AND RETURNS WITH A NOTE--
JUAN COMES FOR ME ON A RAFT--UNCLE RICHARD AND ANTONIO PROCEED TO
POPAYAN--WE REACH A FARM ON THE LLANOS, AND CATCH AND TRAIN WILD HORSES
FOR JUAN'S TROOP--MODE OF CATCHING WILD HORSES--JOINED BY MR. LAFFAN.
The morning found us hacking our way through the forest. As we could
discover no path to follow, it was slow work, and the trees seemed to
become thicker and thicker as we advanced. Under other circumstances,
we might have stopped to admire the wonderful variety of shrubs and
creepers which formed the undergrowth; as it was, we had to keep our
eyes constantly about us, for at any moment we might have to encounter a
huge boa or anaconda, or we might tread upon some venomous serpent, or a
tree-snake might dart down upon us from the boughs above. Monkeys, as
before, chattered and grinned at us. Parrots, and occasionally large
gaily-plumed macaws, flew off from amongst the topmost boughs, startled
by our approach.
Hunger and fatigue told us that we had been struggling on for some
hours, so, coming to an open space, we determined to stop and dine.
Uncle Richard, taking Antonio's gun, shot a monkey and a couple of
parrots; and Antonio and I lighted a fire at which to roast them. But
we had no water, and the food made us feel very thirsty. I proposed,
therefore, looking for some cocoa-nuts, which, in that part of the
country, grow a long way from the sea. We searched around in all the
openings we could discover; at last Antonio shouted out that he had
found something which would satisfy our wants, and he appeared with a
huge melon-looking fruit under each arm. They were the wild cherimoia,
which grow to a larger size than the cultivated ones, although not
possessing their richness. The slight acidity of the fruit was,
however, very refreshing; and, our strength restored, we were soon able
to push on as before.
Another day of hard toil was about to close. To pass the night without
a fire would be dangerous in the extreme, but as yet we had found no
open space in which we could venture to make one. As long, therefore,
as the light lasted we continued to press on, in the hope of discovering
some suitable spot. Antonio climbed up a palm, by forming his sash into
a belt which embraced the trunk--hoping to obtain a good view of the
surrounding region from the top. He told us, on his descent, that he
had seen the glittering of a river at no great distance to the
south-west, and that we should soon be out of the forest. Our continued
thirst, which even the fruit did not quench, made us wish to reach the
river as soon as possible; so we pushed on, and at length had the
satisfaction of getting out of the denser part of the forest, though
trees and shrubs extended down to the banks of the river. Darkness
overtook us; but the moon rose, and we were able to move forward without
much difficulty, expecting every instant to reach the stream.
We were hurrying on, when strange sounds reached our ears. We advanced
towards the spot from whence they proceeded, and, on an open space near
the bank of the river, we caught sight of what at a distance might have
been mistaken for a dance of demons or hobgoblins. But as we drew near
we saw, as we had surmised, that they were Indians. Some of them were
performing a wild dance in couples, holding their arms above their heads
and snapping their fingers; while others were seated on the ground
looking at their companions.
"There has probably been a marriage, and they are now performing the
dance which usually follows the ceremony by the light of the moon,"
observed Antonio. "They are sure to be in good humour, and as they will
have plenty of food, they will be ready to treat us hospitably."
On this assurance we approached the strange group, but the dancers
appeared too much engaged in their amusement to notice us. The music
was apparently produced by a sort of flageolet, accompanied by a
calabash containing some hard seeds or stones, which was rattled in time
to the wind instrument.
Some of those seated on the ground at last catching sight of us,
advanced and inquired who we were and what we wanted. We told them that
we were travellers--our object being to reach the western side of the
valley; that we should be glad if one of them, well acquainted with the
country, would act as our guide, and that his services should be
liberally rewarded. This at once made them friendly; and begging us to
sit down, they brought us a calabash of chica, with which they were
regaling themselves, some venison, and a variety of cooked roots, and
some fruit. The feast was abundant, if not served in a very civilised
way, and we did ample justice to it.
We found that our new friends were, as Antonio had supposed, celebrating
the marriage of one of their young men by a moonlight dance and feast.
The happy bridegroom had just reached his eighteenth year, and his
friends had helped him to build a hut and clear a spot in the forest for
sowing maize. Being an expert hunter, he had bought mats and earthen
pots with the produce of the chase, and had also made several utensils
in wood, besides a store of calabashes; these, with a few other
articles, served amply to furnish the abode to which he was to take his
young wife. He had also, they told us, presented his father-in-law with
a deer, part of which we were eating. The conjurer, who performs an
important part on such occasions, presented himself to us. Of course he
had been invited to the feast, since he acts as the officiating minister
and declares the couple united. Our friends, who had already indulged
somewhat freely in chica, continued passing the calabash round until
they grew very noisy; the old conjurer especially, who, with several
others, at length rolled on the ground and dropped off to sleep. The
more sober of the party, however, assisted us in putting up a little
hut, in which we took shelter,--while they, in spite of their scanty
clothing, lay down round the fire, more for the smoke which kept off the
mosquitoes than for warmth; indeed, we were now in a complete tropical
climate, differing greatly from that of Popayan.
The provisions collected for the feast were sufficient to afford us a
good breakfast; and having rewarded our entertainers, we expressed a
wish to set out. Instead of one guide, three volunteered to come,
saying that each of us would require one; indeed, none of them were
disposed to go alone. We found, on reaching the river, that they
proposed proceeding down it some distance in a canoe. This, too, would
save us from fatigue; and there would be less risk, we hoped, of our
falling in with the Spaniards.
We found, on conversing with the Indians, that they had anything but
friendly feelings for the Godos, who had carried off several of their
people, and on other occasions ill-treated them, compelling them to work
without reward. We therefore felt ourselves perfectly safe in their
company. Whenever we approached a spot--whether hamlet or farm--where
they thought it likely the Spaniards might be quartered, one of them
would go on ahead, and, keeping under shelter, creep up and ascertain if
such was the case. On each occasion finding that the coast was clear,
we continued down the stream. Throughout its course the country on
either side was wild and uncultivated, only small patches here and there
being occupied by settlers, who owned some of the vast herds of horses
and cattle roaming over the broad savannas which extend from the Cauca
to the foot of the mountains.
In this region we met with three or four Indian families of the same
tribe as our companions, and we learned from the last we encountered
that a party of Spaniards occupied a spot on the bank of the river some
way lower down, but whether they were marching north or south we could
not ascertain. One thing was certain--we must either land on the
opposite side to that where they were posted, or pass by during the
night. Our Indian friends decided that the latter would be the safest
plan to pursue, so we ran the canoe a short distance up a creek with
reeds on either side and thickly wooded beyond; a place which afforded
us ample concealment, while there was abundance of wild fowl to supply
us with food.
The Indians had brought some network hammocks composed of fibre, which
they hung up between the trees, and advised us to occupy while they
prepared supper. No sooner had we landed than Uncle Richard shot a wild
turkey, which we left with the Indians, while we went along the banks of
the stream in search of ducks. Our friends' eyes sparkled in the
anticipation of an abundant feast, as they saw us return with four brace
of fat birds. The Indians had a big pot, into which they put some
venison they had brought with them, and some of the birds cut up, with
vegetables of various sorts. These they stirred over the fire, and made
a very satisfactory mess, flavoured as it was with chili pepper and
other condiments. We ate our turkey simply roasted, however, as it
suited Uncle Richard's palate and my own.
We had still some hours to wait until the Spaniards were likely to be
asleep, and the men on guard less watchful. At present, too, the moon
was so bright that we should certainly have been seen had we attempted
to pass their camp; but clouds were gathering in the sky, and we hoped
that before long the moon would be obscured, when we might slip by on
the opposite side unobserved. We therefore took advantage of the offer
the Indians had made us, and occupied their hammocks; while they sat
round the fire talking, and finishing the remains of the stew. Lion had
come in for his share of the bones, and now lay down under my hammock
with his nose between his paws. The moment I looked out he lifted up
his head, showing that, if not wide awake, he was as vigilant as need
be, and ready to give notice should there be any cause of alarm.
We were completely in the power of the Indians, no doubt, who might at
any moment have deserted us, or delivered us up to the Spaniards, or put
us to death for the sake of our clothes and whatever valuables we
carried. But we had entire confidence in them. It must be confessed
that foreigners have occasionally been killed by the Indians, but in all
the instances I have heard the former were the aggressors. We had from
the first shown the simple-minded people that we trusted them, and their
wish was to prove that our confidence was not misplaced.
The night was far spent when Pacheco, our chief guide, roused us up.
"The moon has kindly veiled her face to enable us to pass the Godos
unperceived," he said. "Up, senors, up! we will start at once."
Jumping out of our hammocks, the Indians quickly rolled them up and
carried them down to the canoe, on board which they had already placed
the rest of their property. By their advice we lay down in the bottom.
I kept Lion by my side, so that in case he should be inclined to bark I
might at once silence him. Pacheco steered, while the other two Indians
rapidly plied their paddles, and we glided at a quick rate down the
stream. We soon approached that part on the northern shore at which the
Spaniards were supposed to be posted, and we therefore kept to the
opposite side. Not a word was spoken, and we all lay close; so that,
had the canoe been seen, the enemy would have supposed that only three
Indians were in her. We could hear the guard relieved, with the
sentries exchanging the sign and countersign; and during the time this
ceremony was going forward our canoe shot by the place without
challenge.
In the hope that we were safe, we were about to get up out of our
uncomfortable position, when a voice hailed us and ordered the canoe to
be brought up to the bank.
"Paddle on!" I heard Pacheco say to his men; and directly afterwards a
shot came whistling over our heads. "Don't be afraid of that," again
whispered Pacheco--"we shall soon be out of sight of the Godos; although
they may fire, they will not hit us."
The Indians, without uttering a sound to show that they felt any alarm,
continued paddling away. Shot after shot was heard; but the Spaniards
must have at length discovered that their prey had escaped them.
We continued our course until the morning, when we saw before us the
Cauca, on the opposite side of which we wished to land. The Indians
crossed the larger river, and pulling up for some short distance, we
entered a creek thickly shaded by trees. Here there was no risk of
being seen by enemies on the other shore. Pacheco, who had engaged to
act as our guide, landed with us, and gave directions to his people to
wait his return.
The stream by which we had entered the Cauca had carried us much further
down the course of that river than we had intended to go; we had,
therefore, now to make our way up it before we struck westward to Oro,
the town at which I had arranged to meet Mr Laffan. Our guide advised
us to continue along the bank of the river, as we should thus make our
way more easily than by striking diagonally across the country. Having
carefully husbanded our powder and shot, too, we were enabled to supply
ourselves amply with food; and we were never in want of wild fruits
which in most countries would be considered very delicious.
It was towards the evening of the second day, and we were about to
encamp, when Antonio, who had gone down to fill a calabash with water at
the river, came back saying that he had seen a small party of cavalry,
who had come down to let their horses drink.
"Are they Spaniards?" asked Uncle Richard.
"No, senor; they appear to me, by their dress, to be Patriots."
On this we all crept down to the bank, keeping under shelter, to observe
the strangers; and on seeing them we were convinced that Antonio was
right. While I was looking I observed another horseman, who by his
dress appeared to be an officer, join the people, and on watching his
movements I felt almost certain that he was my friend Juan. So
convinced was I of this, that I advanced to the water's edge and hailed
him; but the noise of the horses prevented him hearing my voice. "What
would I give to communicate with him!" I exclaimed. "Is no canoe to be
found near, by which we can cross the stream?"