Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-28
ERNEST MORRIS.
Return Of the Young IndianaaNaturalist
and ExpIOrer---Hl Adventure with
a Fanatical Priest, and What
Came Of II.


Among the arrivals on the Bee-line
train at the Union depot, last night,
was a young gentleman Of this city,
who, although young in years, has
earned for himself a reputation for
push and enterprise of which an older
man might be proud. Ernest Morris,
Just returning from his third trip to
South America, is the young man
referred to. He took quarters at the
Grand Hotel, where he was inter
viewed by a Journal reporter. Al
though fatigued after his long journey,
he welcomed the reporter and told
him the following story
After leaving indianapolis last sum
mer | spent some time in the Eastern
cities making up my outfit for another
trip to South America, and finally
sailed for Brazil with the Mackie-
Scott expedition, in which | was to
serve in the capacity of naturalist. On
reaching Para, however. and almost
before anything at all had been ac-
complished, the expedition broke up,
andits members returned to this coun-
try. They offered to pay my way, also,
but | was not one of the kind to turn
back after having gone so far, and
went on alone. | started into the in
terror and did not stop until | had
reached a point on the Rio Negro,
1850 miles abova Para. | was alone
except for the native Indians, avillain-
GUS set, who barter their daughters off
for a gallon of rum | prosecuted my
work as best | could, but under diff :
culties, | can assure you. | succeeded
in securing several excellent specimens
of orchids, botanic specimens which |
most desired, and got them safely to
this country. At one time | was in a
little canoe on the Rio Negro for six
weeks, attended only by an Indian
crew, and during that time there were
but three days when | could set my
foot on dry land, That was in the
dense, inundated forests of the inte-
rior. | had nothing fit to eat, and was
in a sad plight, | tell you. By the
way, | discovered what | consider ia
be the greatest thing | ever have dis
covered. 1t is a new variety of cotton,
known to the natives of the portion
of the country in which it grows as
catspaw cotton" so called from a
popularity in the formation of the
pod. II grows on trees in a large
pod, which burst when ripe and the
cotton falls to the ground, from
which it is gathered. The natives
know of no use for it. | have brought
a quantity of it to this country. and
allowed New York and Boston parties
to take it in order that they may as
certain whether or not it is possible to
utilize 1t. In getting my collection OF
insects to this country | lost many OF
the most valuable by reason of dam
age by water. The rest are with Mr..
Erastus Corning, of Albany, N. Y,
TO be sold and converted into money
as o o as possible. SO you want to
hear of my adventure with the priest
at Manan, do you? Well, it happen
ed thus | was sauntering through
the streets of the town one afternoon,
when | noticed Padre Amancio, fol
lowed by a bOdy-guard of soldiers and
a large number of civilians. As he
passed along the streets each person
he met knelt and offered up a prayer.
In his hand he carried some kind Of a
wooden image, a wooden saint,
| suppose, and it was to this
that they showed obeisahce.
As he approached me | uncovered
my head but did not kncel.
Seeing this, he said, as he confronted
me "Kneel, sir y to which | re-.
piled II am showing respect to your
religion by thus uncOvering my head {;
| will not kneel." After repeating his
command and meeting with the same
answer, he said to his soldiers: oar.
rest him and take him to prison
The crowd surged about me, still on
their knees and astonished counte-
nances looked upward into my face,
%groaning and kissing with rage and in
dignatiOn. My remOnstrances were
useless. | would not yield my point
nor the pardre his, so | was arrested.
On the way a Frenchman, who also
refused to kneel, was also arrested.
On my arrival at the prison, | de-
manded for the chief Of police. He
was out, but his wife, whom |.
had met on a steamboat in the
course of my travels, cared for
me until his arrival. When he
did come and heard my story, he was
furious, and pronounced the affair the
grossest of insults, Why" said he,
" no law in Brazil compels a man to
knecl against his will" He told me
to go free at once, but that did not
satisfy me. | went at once to the pres
ideut of the province andlaid the mat
ter before him. When he learned who'll
was and saw my letters from ex-Sena-
tor Morton, Governor Williams and
Others, he sent foF the chief Of police
and, a|scertaining the truthfglness at
my representations, he suspended the
priest and administered to him a very
severe reprimand. The latter insisted
that he acted upon higher authority
than that of q president, hut the pres
idsBt's power seemed tn hold over on
this occasion, and the eoeleaastlo was
suspended, Am | going hackP Well,
| should say was. Yes, indeed, as
seon as | can obtain a fresh outfit and
get another start | shall return. I
will be able to obtain a good one this
time, as my collection will sell for
enough. And in case it should not
the Boston Herald has said that |
should Oh hack nevar have etortod