Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-03-22
THE FATHER OF SNAKES.
Thrilling Adventure on the Soil
moens River, in Brazil.
Story of the Capture of a Sailor by a Terri
bic Anaconda Is Related by a Member
Of the Naval service of the Late
Emperor.

"The late Empire, now Republic, Of
Brazil has within her border, more nu-
merous and larger reptiles, said DR., Il. d.
Henderson, late OF the brazilian naval
service, when talking to the writer a
few days ago, than are contained with
in the boundaries of any other nation.
and in making this broad statement |
will not accept even that reputcd para
disc of serpcnts, Upper India, where it
is a common thing for the python to Sc
lect a heavy OK or buffalo as 4 choice
morsel for a meal. In the numerous
islands dotting the delta of the lower
Amazon there are whole colonies of rep
tiles, which are now and then only dis
turbed by the incursions of man. the ma
tives of those parts having a snpcrsti-
tious dread Of invading the thickly-
wooded morasses, where evil spirits as
well as serpents are supposed by the
ignorant people to make their haunts,
ut was in the spring of 1857 that the
Brazilian corvette Pic del Norte was de-
tailed for special exploration service on
the upper waters OF the great river, !
was at that time on board Of her in the
capacity of surgeon, having, like many
English naval officers, joined the Brazil
ian service on account of the higher re-
Enumeration and more speedy prospects
of advancement which it afforded. My
sole stipulation had been, when ] Joined
the Pho del NUrte, that my faithful SER
vant and assistant, Tom Barry, who
figures very prominently in this story,
should be allowed to accompany me. As
naval officers acting in professional ca
pacities are allowed one servant, this
was easily arranged.
I'VE had been about a year on the
corvette when she vas detailed for river
exploration service. Besides her regu.
lar complement, a Brazilian naturalist
of some repute called Vermejho was tc
accompany the expedition, our object
being TO penetrate into and explore the
almost unknown country lying beyond
the falls of the MADEIRA, but to thC
northward. These falls. almost as grea.
q natural curiosity in their way as Mag
ara, are in latitude 9.32 south, longitud,
GO about west from Greenwich. The
surrounding country and that along thu
course of the tributary of the Amazor
known as the Solimoens river is of thu
widest and most forbidding aspect, ant
wild beasts and reptiles of all kinds fine
a home in the recesses of the primcva
forests, or plunge in the waters of tina
region. In the daytime. when the SUI
is shining, and the ~gay-plumagcd trop
ical birds fit from tree to tree, or skin
the surface of the river, the aspect o
nature is cheerful enough; but it is q
night the traveller most feels his insig
nificance and loneliness when seated b.
his campfire with perhaps but a fey
companions. the vastness of the forcS
becomes 50 oppressive, and the sense q
ones distance from civilization almoS
overwhelming.
after eleven days stcaming, the col
vette arrived at ~1ipoagua, where tn
water shoaling rapidly, our party eA
changed our comfortable quarters i
that vessel for the less ample accommo
dations of a steam launch, in whic
smaller vessel, OF course, the real wor
of the expedition wa to be accom-
plished. For the next three days, as "
moved slowly up the stream with dimil
ished speed, nothing of sufficient int
est to relate occurred. Nermeiho an
the chief of the expedition, Lieutenal
Juan Perez, busted themselves with o.
;anto ~ tntornut 90 ,hn,, both tln 40,
and fauna of the region, but |, not beir
naturalist could only smoke ar
smoke and smoke, which ! did incessan
ly, stopping only to sleep and cat ar
waking to smoke again.
ION the fourth day after leaving Il
corvette we entered the north branch
the Solimoens river, and here we lie
lehind all traces of man, even the fe
native huts on the banks of the gre
river which we had heretofore met fro
time TO time at long intervals nc
failing us. We rarely landed exec
TO cut wood for the furnace of Il
launch or TO gather some strange loo
ing plant or DOT which Vermejho al
the lieutenant declared to be of va
value to science, though | must confe
they all looked the same to me.
was only at night that we we
ashore for any length of tin
when we usually went into can
On tn s particular evening we shol
undoubtedly have done so, II one Of &
native guides, a shrewd fellow, had I
reported the finding Of jaguar tracks
great numbers shortly after we land
In the immediate vicinity OF our can
ing place. and dceming 1t inexpcdis
20 expose u small party 10 danger
N decided to make the launch fast
- Aishs loa huge tree tina, mad iaiI
tssm the bank. partly obstructing
sapid cu--ent and making an txcoll,
nseaksste;. and tvsleep on board.
"A l ght hrcero down the river /
driven sssy the mosquitoes, which
10y ee>en " alive ever since we
z1-noCna. - tAhinr adyantae,