The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-12

movement with GREATNESS interest. While keep
ing at . civil distance they seemed to be wrapped
up In us. They looked at the rifles, examined the
pistols, gazed with bewildering anxiety
at little barometer; but when gal
liant gentleman, who thoroughly appreciated the
scene, took out his teeth, they fairly quailed, and
watching their opportunity, ned the place. BY
degrees the interior OF the rustic palace, twenty
feet square, was reduced to some sort OF order.
The cook set about his work lire q hero, and 1t
was not long before the Irizzling bacon set up
tune far more enchanting than the best OF Wag.
ner's modern compositions. Poles were cut on
which to stretch our hammocks. knapsacks were
thrown open to the blazing sun, wet clothes were
wrung and spread out TO dry-there was general
polishing up all round-and py the time supper
was served every face beamed with satisfaction.
Never did blue smoke curl more leisurely from
well nlled pipes; never did weary bones ind more
sweet repose. Our nammocks were dashed to-
gether three feet from the ground undeT meath the
Indians lay contentedIy, and when night fell,
Morpheus was king Of the hut.
THE DELUGE.
II must have been long past midnight when the
trouble commenced The sho uting. rushing and
brawling; the loud complaints, the squabbling on
the Shiny bank, would have reused the sprites in .
churchyard. thought the roof was coming In;
cred, to my horror, that was about to founder in
the hammock. But misery likes company ana,
wretched as was the plight It was relief to find
others sitting up in mournul attitude, with their
useless rubber blankets adding to the Hood that
now flowed through their little beds. We COM
menced to bail out l have said there was con-
siderable brawling going on somewhere. The
river had risen several feet and was coursng past
with laundering roar. The canoes were in dan
ger OF being carried on or smashed to pieces
hence the excitement on the bank. Some one
limited That all hands might be noated or free Of
expense. ana we kept awake for the emergency.
1t was subsequently suggested, with more pro-
prtety, that the garments which the broiIing sun
had tempted many to spread out to dry the day
before might possibly become more damp than
ever, and believe they did.
DOWN THE RAPIDS.
Not being particularly interested in the move
menls Of Aurora that morning, cannot record in
what imaginary Costume the lady appeared. /
have no doubt 1t was very nice; Dus as most Of
the party were busily engaged in arranging their
saturated clothing, packing their knapsacks, with
many blessings on the industrious clerk or the
weather, and disposing Of their matutinal repast,
1t Is to be presumed that the beauties or the sur
rounding scene were entirely lost on the pictur-
was a rosy morning for all that, and the prospect
OF an exciting trip over the rapids OF the Napipi
tended in some degree to cheer our dropping spir-
Its, more especially since the sun began to shed
his gladdening rays around. There were seven ca
noes IN waiting, each propelled by two natives,
who, distributed the baggage and provis-
ions through each, according to Its size and Ca
pacity, and the members OF the party having
taken their seats,
THE NOVEL LOOKING SQUADRON
got under way. In the first sat Commander Self
ridge drying himself in the sum- II / forget not
General Ammen followed, then came Major
Mcfarland; in the next canoe were Captain Huer
and myself. Professor Mitchell and the baggage
train" brought up the rear. The two indian females
who had ned SO preclpitately from the camp the
day before now issued from their palm leaf home
In the woods and appeared on the bank in all their
tropical luxuriance. To all our metropolitan
gesticulations OF adieu they responded not; but,
looking bashfuly on the ground. quickly wheeled
about and disappeared. And now the Napipi
began to unfold its beauties, as the giant trees on
either side formed . sheiterlng archway overhead.
Countless parasites entwined themselves In in.
extrlcable twists around the branches high in
air, hanging pendant In every shape and form to
the waters surface. The river was ex.
tremely crooked, and every turn brou2h. fresh
and enlivening novelties. We had settled on q
long days ride, being now on the way to the
Rancho Grande. forty miles from the mouth OF the
Napipi. Little did we think that as the canoe
rushed over the rapids like an arrow the time was
close at hand when that same canoe would crawl
like snail that we would be compelled to jump
out In the whirling current and drag 1t over the
rocks that 1t would yet be damned over fity times
in twice as many yards; that In stepping on slip
perry stones we would tumble and hold on lor grim
death, and that by an act so thouehtless craft
would ill with water, thereby entailing the labor
of bailing. But unfortunately, ali these things
came to pass and yet, for those who loved excite
ment the trip was joyous one. Pen cannot pic
ture the humors Of this extraordinary ride-the
duckings, the ridiculous situations and innumera-
bic mishaps that marked Its progress. The
SPICE OF DANGER
made It all the more agreeable. There was plenty
OF work for the canoemen, who managed their tiny
the only thing dreaded was the upsetting OF our
fran conveyances, an event which momentarly
seemed to come about. AS IL was our knapsacks
were pretty well saturated. These rapids extend
for several miles, and for the greater part OF the
way the canoes were hauled bodily over them,
their occupants being compelled to meander in the
bed OF the river dntil such times as clear space
interviewed. After very exacting journey the
canal squadron reached the Rancho Grande, near
the mouth Of the Merindo River, where the party
was warmly welcomed BY Lieutenant Sullivan.
who, as have already stated, had gone ahead
some ten DAYS before, and who had made all the
arrangements necessary for the comfort and
transportation OF the engineers. After hearty
repast the usual process OF drying clothes was
proceeded with. Moreover as chance would have
1t, the eventful day was Monday, and, there being
nothing better tnan to follow home traditions.
all hands went into the laundry busi-
ness with great avidity and despatch,
that before long the display of linen on the sur
rounding bushes was decidedly creditable. But
the sand nies were intolerable, and, what with the
vigorous assaults Of regiments OF red-headed ants,
the evening was spent In loud and long continued
excavations. But we had good nights rest in
the ranch, our hammocks being spread on the
floor, and the occupants numbering about thirty