New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-31


deck and the storm 10 the sufocation below. ne
hstchwsy nearly closed but there was q hgut
within. stopped 10 the slide, am IN DONG 80
obtained aful view of the interor' Inc sPe, so'I
which presented itself was 80 eKraoriiaary uar 1
stopped short and looked on in mute surprise. Inc
candle was standing the locker and kneehng oesue
il was the Captain. He Sas stripped to The vast and
held in one hand what appeared 10 be the horn on 40 ne
animal in which ha caught the blood ihst dnpre1
from large gash in the eshy part OF his eit arm Jus
above the elbow, while he muftered rapldy s1s luuc
ard MISUNDERSTANDING words unlike afy n 1870. e:a
before h. ard Ny fret impression WAS tnat AH1oihO
md tried 10 fulfill his own prediction by attempting
the life ef the Captain but soon saw that ne va
performing some religious rte, sacrihce or p'oPita
ton such as the Oh men sid teach IN Jamaica an1
Santo Domingo aud which are steathiiy ob4eryed
even by he negroes protesting Christianity and having
a nominal connection with the Church. recognized
in the horn the mysterious gregre Of the God Coas
where the lowest form of fetish worship prevails, aud
where human blood is regarded as the most acceptable
Of sacrifices. Respecting too ngidly all ceremonies
and rites which may contribute 10 the peace OF mind
Of Others to think of disturbing them, silently win
drew from the hachway and left the Captain to hdish
hs debasiDg devotions. In short time nc appeared
on deck and gave some orders IN calm voice AZ one
treasured and ccDnoent.
was occupied below for only few minutes yet
when got deck again the storm was upon us. The
waves were not high, but the vaer seemed TO ne
caught Up by the wind and TO be drited along Ike
snow, in binding, drenchlng sheets. l was nearly
driven off nv feet by It's force and would have been
rigging The bowling of the wind and the Kissing OF
the water would have dro ~ned the oudest voice. and
WIGS so blinded 10y the spray that | could not see.
Yet could feel that we were driving before the nur-
rcGne with fearful rapidiiy. The very deck seemed to
bend as if ready 10 break beneath our feet nnaiy
sufficiently recovered Uysef TO be able, III the panse-
of the wind and when the lightning fell, To catch
elimpses around Our sails were torn in tsrters,
the yards were gone, n fact everything was swept
from the deck except three dark figures, like myself
clngiDg oOnvulsyely TO the rODes. 90, on bali bur
eo in the sea- drifted with inconceivabe rapdity.
Little did we think that we were rushing on dan
ger more terrible than the ocean. The storm had bui
feted for more than hour and II seemed az If II
had exhausted It's wrath and had begun to subslde
wi en- sound boarse and steady, but louder even than
that Of he wind broke upon our ears IL was evident
that we were approaching H. for every instant 1t became
more distinct and OminOUs. gael ahead into the
hopeless darkness, when suddenly broad sheet
lightning revealed Immediately before us, and not
cable slCngth distant, wha under the lurld CLEAN
appesed to be a wall OF white spray dashing literally
hundred feet in the ARA he'll OF waters rom whoh
there was 10 escape III ROlcadOr :! shrieked the
Captain in voice of utter despair that even taen
thrilled like knife in my heart. The fearful N lment
of death had come anu ! had barely time TO draw
full breath of preparation for the struggle whom we
were literally wbemed in the raging waters. fel,
shock sharp ek and the HIS and gurge OF the sea
a sensation OF immense pressure, followed 10y a blow
like that Of heavy fall. Again was lfiod up, and
az ain struck down, but this time with less force l
had just enough Consciousness left to know that was
etflklng on the eHnO, anu al
TO rise and escape from the waves Before could
ean my feet / was again struck down, again aud
again nj 81, de,d than alive, at last succeeded
in crawling 10 a spot where the water did not reach
me. sIOve 10 rise now but could not; and, AS that
is the last thing remember distinctly of that terrible
night, / suppose l must have fallen into swoos.
Better luck however soon cOmes he arrives
safely at Bluefelos; makes friends with his
Majesty, the Mosquito King and, after pene-
tratDg the forests of the interior, meets with
variety of adventures which need not have been
disdaDed even by Robinson Crusoe. As
specimen of these, though o; less exciting
character than the average, we will listen to the
authors story of bis
RENCoNTER WITH A TAPIR.
Day by day we ex ended excursions further from
the camp every step revealing to me, az least some
thing novel ard interesting | think it the third
day after our arrival when we came upon patch of
low goua I'D jungle, densely wooded, and distant per
haps half mile from our encampment Attracted by
bright flowers penetrated few yards into the
bushes, where to my surprise came upon what ap-
peared 10 be a we'll beaten path, which followed for
some distance wondering the various queer tracks
which observed printed here and there the moist
ground. While thus engaged, was startled by the
sound ofsOme animal approaching with dull and heavy
hut rapid tread Looking up, saw n lead-colored
beos about the size of large donkey it, head dropping
between it, fore-egs, coming toward me at swinging
tot Thinking he was charging upon me direct lleapcd
into the bushes with the intention of climbing up
tree But before could effect my object the monster
numbered past, taking not the slightest notice of my
pres, | breathed fIeer when saw his broad but
locks and little piglike tail disappearing down the
path, and made my way out OF the jungle In man
ner probably more expeditions than either graceful or
valo Ous Antonio, who lodging after fat cur
rassOw, had heard the noise aud witness of my
treat. He seemed alarmed at first but only smiled
when explained what ] had seen. in fact he ap
pesrd TO think il rather good joke and hurried off
TO examine the tracks. He came back in few min
utes ana reported that M monster was only dante,
which took 10 be some kind of Indian lingo for at
least q hppopOtamus or fhinocerOs.
I'VE shall have rare sport" he continued, in
catching this dante. 1t will be equal to hunting the
manitus."
found upon inquiry that the dante is called, in the
Mosquito dialect, tuba or tapa, which names at!once
suggested tapir, animal OF which had read but
of which had very vague notions.
The Poyer Toy seemed delighted with the news that
there t0pr about, and in less than five minutes
after both he and Antonio sharpening hsr sPears
and lances with papable design my monster me-
They told me that 'he tdP# generally keeps quiet
riuy the day, wandering out at night. usually in
fixed hauns and by the same paths to take exercise
and obtain his food. i WAS not little relieved when
they added that he never fights with beast, but
bis safety TO bis speed thick hide and ability TO
tale TO the water, where he is much al home
land, swimming sinking 10 the bottom at his pleas
ure. He is nevertheless headlong beast, and when
alarmed or pursued stops al noihng-yines, bushes,
trees rocks are all the same 10 hun he would do
well for a crest, with the motto "Aeck Nothing
In shape the dante or tayir sometimes caei mum
tain coal is something ike a hog but much larger
He has a similar arched back; his hea0 however, is
thicker, and comes 10 sharp ridge al the top. The
male has snOut or sort of pr0b0sc;s hanging over
the opening of the mouth something like the truak of
an elephant, which he in like manner. This is
wanting in the female. Its rounded bOoiered
with white. and can be drawn forward at pleasure;
It's Ks thick and stumpy It's fore fee, or hoofs
divided into three parts toes, with sort OF false