Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-06-29
UP THE ORlNOCO.

gan ner ascent up IHe OrlnOcO river
1t was an exploring expedition fitted
out by Redfol the English naturalist
taxidermist, and he had the full con
sent of the Venezuelan authorities to
navigate if possible to the headwaterS
of the stream. Our party was com
posed of Mr.. Redfol, an English sports
man named Grant, a Scotch doctor
and sportsman named Mcdonald,
two young men named Ward and Ba.
ker. who were assistants TO the natu-
ralist, an engineer, fireman, cook,
a steward, two deck-hands, and my
self. | was taken TO act as interpre-
ter, having passed several years on the
coast and in the interior. | was also
TO assist the professor in securing and
caring for specimens and in helping to
supply the party in fresh meat.
The launch had been built in Eng
land and especially for this trip. She
was fat-bottomed, screw power. and
of light draught. Her engines were
powerful, and her CRATES arranged for
either coal or wood While room and
comfort had been sacrificed to secure
strength and power, our accomnoda-
tions were still ample and convenient.
We had a large supply Of small arms
and ammunition. and two siX-pound-
ers were mounted on carriages so as to
be used at the gangways. All the up
per cabin-windows were provided with
bullet-proof shutters, and the wood
work was strong and heavy. There
was no doubt that we should meet
with hostile natives, and it was only
common prudence TO be prepared for
them.
The English brig Duke took the
launch from England TO Trinidad,
where she was set up and fitted out,
and it was from that island we took
our departure that September morn
ing, carrying as much coal as we could
possibly stow away The second day
after getting into the Orinoco we were
beyond all settlements, and although
the stream is much used by native
boatmen it was only at long intervals
that any craft came in sight. There
is no river in the world, not even the
Ganges, which is more infested by
crocodiles. We saw them almost the
moment we entered the stream, and
every mile passed over the number
seemed to increase. They were so bold
and numerous as TO be serious mem
ace to the native craft, and we had
been asked by Government officials to
kill as many as possible. During the
afternoon of the second day three Of
us killed with our rifles at least fifty of
the monsters. Wherever there was a
sands beach the reptiles could be
found by the dozen, and some Of the
sandbars in the river were hidden
from sight by the scaly bodies. The
engines were slowed down and the
launch kept "a near the shore as safe
" would permit, and we were often
within pistol-shot of our targets. Few
of the crocodiles seemed alarmed at
ourappearance, and some came swim
ming off from islands and sandbars to
inspect us. have seen the crOco-
diles of India and Africa, where they
are supposed TO attain their largest
size, but they cannot compare with
those of the Orinoco. About ) o'clock
in the afternoon of the second day, as
we swerved into the mouth Of a creek
on the right-hand bank 10 escape some
driftwood coming down, every one ut
tered an exclamation OF astOnishInent
at sight of a monster saurian lying
among the weeds. He was, "a all
agreed, fully twenty-five feet long, and
his bulk at the middle was that Of a
horse He lay with his head away
from us at first. but on being aware
of our presence he whirled about.
opened his jaws wide enough to take
in an oil-barrel. and took his time
about entering the water. Our aston
ishment at his size was so great that
none of us fired a shot
After proceeding five miles further
up the stream we crossed TO the left
bank, entered the mouth of another
creek, intending 70 make our first eI-
cursion on shore from this spot. Sew
eral crocodiles followed in the wake
of the steamer, and some of the men
declared that the big fellow was
among them. We ran into the creek
about four times our length, and made
fast to tree on shore, and in short
time night shut down over the forest.
Here was a great highway which
had been more or less navigated for a
score of years, and along the banks OF
which were many settlements, and
yet the presence of man had not made
the slightest inroad into the wildness
and the savageness of nature. Scarce
ly had the darkness come down when
we were besieged on all sides. For
the mosquito pest we were prepared.
Had We not been no man could have
lived an hour. They came down upon
us in such swarms that a man outside
ofshelter would have been eaten alive.
Every door and window was defended
by wire cloth, but the insects settled
on the glass outside and upon every
object on deck until it was hidden
from sight. The crocodiles came
down the creek and In from the river