The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21

stood for q moment looking Dack into the
stream. He appeared less cowed than angry
and disappointed. He seemed to VOW future
revenge and then seizing the halftorn carcass
of the capivara, he threw it lightly over his
shoulder and trotted off into the thicket.
! Our travellers had not watched this scene
either closely or continuously. They had been
too busy all the time. From the commence
ment, they had been doing all in their power to
get away from the spot; for they dreaded lest
the iaguar might either first overpower the
crocodile and then attack them, or, being beat
en- off by the latter, might take it into his head
to revenge himself by killing whatever he
could. With these apprehensions, therefore,
they had hastily carried everything aboard, and
drawing in their cablehpushed the balza from
the shore. When the 2ght came to an end,
they had got fairly into the current, and, just
as the jaguar disappeared, the raft was gliding
swiftly down the broad and ripping stream.
ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA
For several days, they voyaged down stream,
without any occurrence of 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 craft, and re-
manned by their maloccas," or great village
houses, in each of which several families live
together. Not caring to have any dealings
WIFI tN6ul. our IrdNelleTS were only JOO gldu 10
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 little farther
down stream, and, in fact almost obliged them
to float all night, which would have been dan
gerous matter, as the current at the place hap
pened to be sharp and rapid.
They had been on the lookout for some time
for 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 rivers edge, and the branches of
the trees even dropped into the water. At
length, they came in sight of natural raft that
had been formed by driftwood in 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. 1t was, at all
events, better than to attempt to penetrate the
thick iungles which met them everywhere else;
and so the balza was directed towards the raft,
and soon loated alongside it.
They had already got ashore on the raft,
which was dry and firm, and would have served
their purposes well enough, when, all at once,
! Guapo was heard uttering one of those excla-
|
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 attitude that beto-
kened 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 n terrible calamity, should these creatures
gain Judgement on the balZa. Not only were
they the dreaded singing ants, but in short
time nothing on board would be left. In few
hours, they would have eaten all his stores-his
bark, his vanilla, and his roots. Already quite
number had got upon the canoe, and were
crossing it towards the body of the balza.
Without saying another word, he ordered all
! to get on board as quickly as possible, each ia
king some utensl that Mad already been car
ried 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 pals,
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 abne to sleep, leaving the balza where it
was during the night-they would have awaken
ed in the morning to find their stores complete
y destroyed-their labor of a year brought to
nothing in the space of single night This is
no uncommon occurrence to the merchant or
the colonist of tropical America.
They had made narrow escape, but fortu
nate one. They were not without their troubles,
however. No open ground could be found for
| Ill H. al
approached the thickly-wooded bank, and, after
good deal of scratching among the branches,
at length succeeded in making the cable fast to
a tree. The balza then swung round and float
ed at the end of the cable, half of it being burr
ed 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 thick
ct. On the other hand, the balza did not afford
the best accommodation for sleeping. The lit
tie "toldo," or cabin, was not large enough to
swing hammock in. 1t would only contain
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 occupi-
ed with the freight; and this was so arranged
with Sloping sides, matched 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 be-
gan to appear along the eastern sky, they were
all awake, and ready to leave their disagreeable
anchorage.
AS they were making preparations to unite
the cable, they noticed that, Just below where
the balza lay horizontal limb stretched far
out over the river. 1t was the lowermost limb
of a large zamang tree that stood ON the bank
close to the edge of the water. 1t was not near
the surface, but 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 spiders web. This would be
| serious damage, and one to be avoided if pos
sible.
Don Pablo and Guapo went to the end of the
balza nearest the branch, and stood for some
time surveying it. 1t was about eight or ten
yards distant; but in the gray dawn they could
not judge correctly of its height and they wait
ed till it grew little clearer. At length thew
came to the conclusion that the branch was
high enough. The long pendulous leaves
characteristic of this great mimosa-and the
dropping branchlets hung down much below
the main shaft; but these, even if they touched
the roof, would do no injury. 1t was therefore
determined to let go the cable.
1t was now clear day, for they had been de-
layed a good while; but at length all was ready