Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-08-15
The Smnasinta River a Singular
Stream on which One Easily
Loses His Way.
A Party Of Explorers Lose the Main
Stream and Become Entangled
in a Swamp.
After Many Hardships they Return,
Leaving the Secrets of Sumatra
River Unsolyed.
FELIx /. OSWALD.

ment undertook a survey OF the border re-
gion which divides Southern Mexico from
the Republic OF Central America, and sew
eral hundred miles of the frontier line were
mapped ont in q few months. The whole
work was to be completed in the course Of
a year, but the plan mad to be reiinquished
when the surveyors entered the swamp
wilderness Of the Sumlsinta river.
After hiring all the help thft could be Of
any possible use to them, and rlsking their
lives and the loss Of all their maps and in
struments, the exploring party had to
thank heaven for being able to effect their
retreat, and the survey or-ln-chlef gave IN
substance the toll-wing account Of their
adventures:
They touched the Sumasinta at point
known as Las Cascades, or The Rapids,
where the water Is shallow enough TO be
forded in the dry season. The overland
road to Guatemala here crosses the river,
and fishermen IN their hight canoes ven
ture a few miles down stream; but the
general belief Ct tue neighDoring settlers
was that the expl0r ltlon of the lower
stream could not be attempted without
great risk. There were landings and fer
RES far down, and even river side set
Elements. but they could be reached only
by roundabout Land roads. Travellers try
ing a short cut by floating down the river,
had generally lost their way, and returned
after days OF peril and hardshlps. Others
had never been heard from again-the
wilderness had swallowed them. There
were other rapids below Cdscadas, and
the RIVER is full of alliQators; but such
rifles would not have scared the Mexican
boatman. What they dreadee was the great
number of places where the stream,
as it were becomes shoreless, and enters
the primeval forest on both sides, leaving
the navigator to fad an outlet from the
labyrinth OF water and tanglewOo1 A
current seeming o indicate the course of
the man stream, may lose itself in cane
break; another channel my be lead miles
to the left or right, and then despair in %
blockade OF drift woOd-snags as long as
ship e mast wedged together and mingled
with floating brambles, vines and reeds.
The main stream may have an open en- M
mel, but how to distinguish IT from the
thousands of branches, and how retrace
ones way in case OF a mistake?
Still, the government surveyors resolved
to try. They bad abundance of provision
and camping outfit, and IN the worst case
could rely on their instruments to rerace
their way, or get near enough bdcs to
their starting point to be sure that some Of
the settlers would near their signaI-shot of
distress. You may try it, and take my
best pilot along an old trader at the ferry
told them; but till you get back shall
listen for signals every morning and every
sunset, for am much afraid you will lose
your way below Arenas Ia point some
fourteen miles from the ford.
Four miles east OF Arenas the river
divided into three branches. and their
pilot decided to try the northm0st one, on
account OF the numerous manatees or river
seals, sporting about IN the current
which seemed 10 have assembled from the
gulf shore. these creatures, which often
attain weight Of several hundred. raise
their young in the deep, sedgy Iagoons
near the sea coast, and visit tie u per
river valleys only during the rainy season,
when small streams expand into broad
lakes
For distance ofabout fourteen English
miles the northern channel was open
enough for a steamboat TO pass without
the assistance of boat hooks but further
down island after island rose from the
waters till ut last the progress Of the voy
ayers was DISTRACTED by a large forest Of
caucho trees. that seemed to extend from
shore 70 shore. and only here and there
opened water gate between the Shiny
trunks. that appeared to flourish under
twelve feet Of mud water and vegetable
sediment.
Night was coming on and thinking it
too risky to eater the swamp by torChight,
their pilot advised them to moor their boat
in a little boy, where the eddies had formed
perfect hill Of driftw ,od, that would
prove itself for cooking purposes On both
sides of their little island the river cur
rent gurgled around deep-sunken snags;
STILL dry land could not be far off, tor
about three hours after sunset they heard
the loud screams of a peccarl, or wiG hog,
that seemed 10 have come TO grief at its
drinking place. 4 crashing through the
thlcket followed, accompanied by the an
cry grunts OF the peceari companion,
winch seemed to huddie together 10 de-
feud themselves against the attack Of some
prowljug murdreT-a llguar, perhaps,
that had ambushed the herd OF the water 5
edge,
Alligutors too could be heard spIashing
from time to time, and once the boat
shook Is If some large beast lad tried to
upset it by Il push from below Fish
IetpeI out Of the water In all directions.
and three of the ludlan boatnen trimmed
their torches AMI padded out on little
raft IN the hope Of spearlng pamPauo or
two. but the surveyors were too tired 70
Join in that sport,
At the first glimpse Of daylight they got
& "a ban ~