The New York herald., 1870-04-10

Passlng through Caled0n the guides led on
by zigzag Indian trail through Caledonia
river 1--WE waded breast high the second
time we crossed ~, up clay banks and
traversng immense plaintain plantations dark with
perpetual twilight After going distance Of four
miies the old chief OF the Caledonia tribe was found
Mutual assurances of distinguished consideration
and eternal friendship were exchanged during a
half an hours poww0w, after which the Old chief,
apparently satisfied with solemn promises that not
even q banana or plantaln should he disturbed,
gave TWO Indians TO guide the party to the foot Of
the mountain. Ensign Jasper and Mr.. sullivan were
detached, Nth fifteen men, to make running sur
yey OF the reconnaissance. The powwow with the
old chief had occupied so much time that noon came
before the rest OF the party could start. Diuer
cooked, and the old chief remained to eDjoy hard
tack, q little whiskey and more last w0rdsr
OF anectionate farewell. But he earnestly OH
Jected TO the proposal that the tOom.
mander should make q visit alone 20 the
Caledonia village. The women, he said, were
very much afraid OF white men. More last words"
again, and the two Indian guides led along the
zigzag trail across Caledonia river pantain pianta
tlons gravel beaches and almost level clay baaks.
AT 7. ~. small nil. $50 feet high. was reached.
Crossing this hil we arrived az 245 at the fooI OF
high mountain. where we concluded 10 encaanp, as
the Indians said that would require Six hours 70
cross II, anu that no water could be Obtalued until
we reached the Sucubti rver which, they added,
flowed the other SIDE OF It, All hands then fell to
work putting up huts thatched with plainlaln, but
an0rdlng only an imperfect shelter against the rain.
The Old chief, who, notwithstanding his impressive
farewell, had stuck to the party, now pointed with
soemnity to the sky, exclaimlng "rogai Toga ~
lie explained through the interpreter, Joaquin, an
old coast pilot who promises to be very useful that
II would rain "very mucnn all night ana therefore
ne would go home TO MS village, but would come
eacR o early ,,n IN ,dn the morning 'a sSsa his pre-,
rain poured down by Ducketfuls all TINS miserable
night The river filed and rose rapidly overflow
Ing the small gravely island on which the con-
pitched their shelter tents ny had to pick up
ana take refuge by the soldiers camp fre, which
scorched the face, while the RAIN, beating through
In streams At TWO O'Clock one by one yielded TO
fatigue and, stretching himself out the stones,
mander Selridge named thls camp 'RaIny Hollow,n
but many VIII remember it by the still more sugges-
tive name OF scamp Misery" While IN camp we
saw several parrots ans number OF centipedcs and
Que POISONOUS snake, besides small trout from
eiGhs inches long In the river. We were also f.s-
c0ud not complain OF being lonely IA tile wilderness
We made this day eight miles,
A COUPLE or SCARED INDIANS.
On the morning OF the 10th the Indians arrived
according 70 promise aud were wiling TO guide Ss
across the mountain but the weather was TOO bad
and We iiad to stay IN camp. We cOntrived, how
ever, TO provide better protection against the rain.
At z +. M. two Sucubti Indians who were follow
ing an indian trail suddenly dropped III upon US, as
much TO their astonlsnnent to our own. Our IN
terpgeter being absent we could only manifest Cur
freldncss by Offering them crackers which they &c
| copied. But they had scarcely gone on q alndrod
yaros when the report OF gun which somebody iirc
the crackers they ran with all speed up tue noull-
tain. blue watersnaKe our only other visitor
to-day ana this also suddenly took french leave o,
W. IL sSas &ysar- he
= CROSSING THE MOUNTAIN.
We broke camp bright and early on the morning OF
the 27th. Everybody walked along very cneerly Tor
the first half hour, bat the rain came pouring down
aud mace each mans load-whlch now averaged
thirty-nve pounds-nuch heavier, and The ROAD soit
camberlng, scrambIi1g end crawling al fours.
Only slow progress could be made oy half step
backward for every sep ahead. The ascent was
were tw0-thirds up towards the first OF the three
summits q the nm mountain: Al THESE csc SUI submits we we
loiest about 900 feet hlgn few feet from the first
resting place the order sd " was ,,gr given q WRAP
| with wooiien blankets. shelter tents, &C., and
let them hang on the bushes until return. Alter
going short distance the trail ascended again,
until, ut height Of 900 feet we crossed she summit
and began to descend towards the Pacific Our trail
s1s E a
| the ridge was not more than five six feet wide,
with sheer descent. Oh either side, OF hundreds OF
feet, at very steep angle. The sdes were covered
denscly Win trees many OF them OF vast sze ana
thick that neither the bottom Of the rayine nor
| the opposite sides could be seen just before we
reached the top the ram poured down In torrents;
ous although well drenched we welcomed IL as
blessed relief from the sultriness which had pre-
| ceded 1t. Moreover, 1t did not last long.
ON THE PACIFIC SIDE OF THE coaDiLLgPAs.
The descent OF the Pacific slope was mucn more
gradual and easy. Once aI the bottom OF the spur
we entered upon a comparatively Level pathway,
with but few elevations greater than forGy feet and
1ntersecled by number OF small streams, mostly
dry pre- enT. As we approached the Sucubti the
land was stll tnicky wooded. the trees snowIng 0y
the year 1t must be overnOwed by water. AT
800 ?. NJ the advance party crossed the
march which the Indians had said would take SIX
hours. Here was an extraordinary instance OF the
almost miraculous suddenness with which the wa.
was seated On rock projecting seven or eight
inches above the surface ana was washing the mud
from his eggings lie suddenly found that the
him to make iol the Dang at once
Starting to cross. narrowly escaped being whired
away by the swift current OF the river which rose
three ssd feet n ys minutes s being & breast ngn
himself only by the friendly aid OF some long reedy
grass that rose above the surface. Thereafter ne
AIS IN the middle OF his ''aard tack" TO keep them
dry. The advance Immediately cut down a large
tree which fell across the stream, but was swept
away before it c0aId be secured. A large vine was
then found hanging from tree extending the
Guard invaluable fellow, by the way, notwith-
standing MS Munchau5en prOpensities dashed
feet against stone, withstocd the current
until Lieutenant SchulZe and three marines
secured the other end In few minutes the vine
was stretched across the river, and, holding on by
IT, we crossed the Sucubt. Iniie and quarter far
ther on Lieutenant Scnulze found zigZag Indian
trail leading by the river through dense under
growth. He also found a good camping ground,
and thirty unfinished arrows with an uncorked bot
tie, which were left undlsturbed. joaquin, the inter-
prefer, somewhat reluctantly guided party
or marines with Lieutenant Schulze and
Lieutenant Go0usell two miles down the
river. and continuation Of the same Indian tran
was found. joaquin for some mysterious reason
was unwilling TO lead and at lengGh he would not
Vpn rad hon hnu
after Two hours travel, the order to return was
given, he took the lead with readiness and we went
into camp IN about thirty minutes at dog tr0t r
rained at intervals all day, and "wet, welter,
wettest' the order OF the night. Vegetation IN
credbly luxurianuP uPleny Of trout In the river one
green poisonous snake, ten feet long, Killed to-
day.
TRIP DOWN THE sUCUBrf Rry~~.
After an uncomfortable night at "Grassy Hoow,n
as Commander Sefridge named camp, we
started at 1880 A. NJ on the 18th uiA down the
SucaDti. The water had fallen considerably. The