New-York tribune., 1886-11-07

run 10 droves. They are desperately brave and
pugnacious; they would sooner fight than feed.
They always charge the hunter who stalks them,
and if ihe cannot gain tree in time his situation
is full of peril On one occasion Mr. Weiss camp
was the object of q furious night attack by these
creatures. and the account is interesting:
Especial care was taken in preparing the camp
that night. The Don and Jose superlntendeu the
orera;ion Of constructing the fort. the SIDES OF
which were tarther protected hy spreading over
them the hides used for covering thr packs OF luo
mules Bush was also cut to make up anu ehlaIso
the defences and a strong stake was driven INTO
the ground inside the fort for the purpose OF secl
ing the dogs in case the peccares arrived: The
camp was made on the borders of olump of trees.
to which were enabled to sling the hamnocks
no one caring to sleep on terra nrma .hau n,g ~,
hammocks spread their hides on the giound lhside
the fort.
After dinner. Of course. peccaries formed the sole
subject of conversation. but hour after honr went
bv vet no signs of their presence appeared: an :
after arranging the watches for the night; we
turned IN. and with the fatigues OF the DAY was
soon asleep
1t appeared to me- however that had barely
closed my eyes, when felt nv hammock NlolentlV
shaken. 1t was the Don awakening me, sHy 'nt, x,
Wake mp here are tae Po,co we are That struck
me was the prevalence of the odor or o1m pHss,trs.
| sat up looked around and llstenei. Inc pi'cny a
blackneSs of night surrounded us. but inc uro
burning brightly sent ITS flirkerng light npon the
trce-tranks. the foliage. ami the nainniochN w.
the fort with gun ana Kr,ie ~, "t; I'm
and the dogs tied to their stake were Win nlin-
emily kept quiet and vented their excitement III
deep growls. As listened it became evident thht
we wers surrounded bv some animals, Tor III many
directions was heard in the stiffness of night. the
sonnd of bodies moving through the DnSh twlgs
swapping. grass rusting. etc. IL vas moment oi
suspense, but not for long; for suddenly. from All
around US came blooh-curline sonnd of the sim
utaneous swapping of teeth from vast numbers OF
the enemy. followed by the aopeAance of crowd
of charging black amin is rushing with wonderlni
speeG toward "a common centre, the fort we IN
the hammocks each lighted coil of tapers
that were prepared ready for the occasion And
what scene ensuel The fire was RAPIDLY scat
tered. and part extlngnislel ; under and aronrf
us was seetDlng mass of black pcccaries, barely
distinguishable in the dim light, but all pushing
and struggling to the front; the men,in the fort
had discharged their weapons and were hard 1t
work, hscking and thrus'ing at the pcccaries as
they endeavored to swarm up the smooth surface of
the hides that covered the sides of the fort The
men in the hamm 'cks. after dIschargng their guns,
reached down an slasne with their knives at
the swarmng animals heow them. The attack
was more like the wild. reckless bravery of the
Arabs of the Soudan. for as pig after pia fell
squealing and disabled. scores more strugg ell for
his place. The FAINT light of the tapers and the
partly extnguished lire served hut to dim'y lllumi-
nat" the elements of the strange. noisy, wildly
and their foliage the swinging hammncks with
their occupants reaching downward. emitting and
thrustiug with their long. cleaning knives the
dim figures of the men IN the btncherid. reprlllag
" it'll si.outs and thruSts the swarming enemy the
wild. rushing. charging forms Of the black bodies
OF the pee aries. as in great numbers they threw
themselves against the fort, regardless of being
struck down one after the other. and Away I'M
PEELED forward by those in the rear struggling 10
the front: Others made in e1ectual attempts to
reach hammOcks or vciOuSly gashe the trees
that gave support: the extremely dIsaGIeeahe
and nauseouS odors of the animals. their swapping
of teeth. ike musketry ilerine. the reports OF the
firearms, the shouts of the men. tho howhng AM
barking OF the d"gs. and the dim light created an
indies scrbahly strange and exciting scene. Every
bullet of my revolver took effect shonted 10
the to their fire. and tire volleys bat II
was like talking in gale of wind at sea.
In spite of all efforts, still the battle ragged The
animals appeared to he in immrnSe numbers. for as
far as the faint light would permit, the gronnd was
covered with their moving bodies, rushing,
struggling. the strongest heating down the weak
est, gruntIng. sqneang, and swapping thelr teeth;
and noticeable above everything was the ab0mln-
able exhalatons from their bodies. an odor like
CON binat.on of ran butter and garlic.
was getting anxious not only for my baggage,
but for the man behind the fort, who had to cut
ami thrust like madmen the excitement was in
tense. The strong raw hides were ripped M as
though slashed with sharp knife. and the bags OF
bears and farinba we're freely streaming their con-
ents on the ground from innumeraDle rippings from
the ke. n sharp tusks.
Although we in the hammocks we're quite safe,
the fort was trembling; many of the saddles and
the enemy Our few miserable firearms appeared
to have no more effect than so many popguns,
although the ground was becoming strewn with the
bodies Of the slain an disabled. AT last succeed
ed in getting tie the hammOcks 70 fire
voIleys at a given ace. and afters time this ap-
peared TO have efect, Tor suddenly as tne at
tuck began so IL reased and the animals with
drew simultaneously and in silence.
II could be desired that the author had told moro
about Dona Chiquinha the bowling monkey
which he caught Young and tamel. This interest
ing net used 10 ride always the top OF the gray
mules head, holding on by the mules ears A
true friendship grew up between the animals, and
when the flies were very troublesome Dona Chi
qulnha would take it upon herself to relieve the
mule from them, to thi, end twir.ng her prehen-
se tail round one of the long ears of her COM
panon, and lowering herself that she could
brush the pests from the poor mules cheeks and
nose. Snch bowling monkey as tnat deserved a
fuller biography 1t mnst be said that Mr.. Wells
displays a patient and cheerful temper throug ghout
his travels and trials Working in enervating
climate, with intractab.e assistants amid natural
distractions of the most DerplexIng and exasperat-
ing character he seems to have preserved his
equanimity remarkably
He has no pretenson to literary style. bnt his
descriptions 40 oficiently Gle and tho matter
of them is so new and interesting that his book
ought to find many Iealers. In appendices he
gives much information about railroad progress in
Brazil, about the future prospects of the country.
and about gold and diamonds His opinion is
that the connry has only yet been scratched for its
precious minerals and gems. and that rich deposits
will hereafter be found, and could be disco yered
if some Californian miners of experience
would undertake tho work. He ntimates further
that he could direct them to some of the likeest
places for both gold and diamonds. though he does
not say he has personal knowledge of such treas
ures. The work is well printed on thick white
paper; the illustrations are good and few of
quite particular delcacy.
An ENGLISH ACCOUNT OF MR.. BEECHERS
JEETURE