Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-07-08

BY HASSAR POST.

III was on tributary OF the Amazon,
far up in the mysterious country, so
bound, interlaccd aud entangled by the
sRakelike lanes that few men had the
tcmerity or desire to penetrate it, The
stream wound away, now in deep, chan
nels, now gliding over treacherous quick
sands orieaping sunken rocks; hemmed
in by the forest aud luxiriant yegeta-
ton that fell over the edges and hung
pendant in the stream, licking up the
drift until veritablc floating islands were
formed, affording rest.for turtles and
other small animals Az rare intervals
there was beach where the sand had
been thrown up in an eddy, presenting
n sparkling and brilliant contrast to the
green.
On such beach lived Mandcl Saliva
dea, famous as hunter and fisherman.
II was he who killed jaguar single
handed with his knife. 1t was Salvadea
who swung across the roaring Matos
upon n vine and saved seven or eight
of his people from the food, and it was
he who, when held up as hero, scorned
the term and asked, as it not mans duty
to do right?' SO it will be seen that
this Indian was unique in his way, and
his comrades or the people of his tribe
looked upon him with something akin
to reverence.
To secure Salvadea's services was
guarantee of game or fish; yet for a
fisherman no entertained some peculiar
ideas. He objected to taking fish fer
pleasure and had been known to lift n
comrade and hurl him into the water for
killing fish known as tho hassar. He
seemed to be the self-constitutcd cham
pion of the iinny tribe. Why Let him
tell bis own story:
II protect the fishes, senior, because
they cared for me when was helpless.
If an animal does you service, you can
but return it | did not always think
so; it was this way: Two years ago |
lived on the upper branch Of tho Querto,
the little stream which we believe rises
far away in the up country. where the
white peaks reach toward the heavens.
10 the season the river was low, and
then we caught turtle, iguana, and the
game upon which VIC live. | knew Of n
certain place where game was plenty,
and one day, without saying a word, |
left the camp and padded down the
river, and leaving tho canoe tied to
lance cut my way across tho country to
the spot You know, senior, that the
water is always washing away the banks
and undermining the trees. Well, so il
was on the little river. When | reached
it found it lower than ever; so low
that the sand was bare in places, aud
pools were left everywhere alive with
fish.
"As | unloadcd my basket and net |
heard loud crash, and turning to see
the cause, saw large mona tree falling
upon me. II was too late to escape. 30
threw myself upon the sands. The
next hours wero a deep sleep. knew
nothing, and when awoke it was dark.
| was lying partly in the water and over
my leg was branch of the tree | was
powercss and could not move, and
knew rain would produce a frsshot
that would cover nc ten feet deep in as
many minutes. All this, senior, came
over mc--a sudden dream. II was use
less to shout. rs was miles away and
had taken good care to tell no one
where had gone Morning camo, and
| then saw my condition fully. | was
held by my legs aud right arm; my left
arm was free, but | could not reach the
sand at my foet to dig it away; was
bound rs fast as they say our knsmon
in the north country bound their victims
for sacrifice. At the end of tho day
was very weak and ate the leaves.
The next day ate the mud and
water and some worms which found
The stream was growing lower, the water
about mo cvaporating in the hot sun.
and the insects babe fair 10 destroy me.
At night the jaguar's cry fell upon my
ear, and every rustic Of the leaves, the
signing Of the wind, aroused mo Did
you you ever hear the leaves talk, senior
They do, though ii is only at certain
times that we can interpret them /; our
nerves must be turned TO higher ten.
sion, Father Moreno says; then We cal
respond 10 them. seemed 10 heal
sounds never hoard before Th,
leaves made music, the wind sighet
among tho lanes, and soft notes ros,
everywhere, aud imagined they wor
talking 10 ne.
Five days had passed, the water wa
gone and was so weak that waite
for death AS tho sun rose, aud | wa
thinking how hard it was TO give u
life. | felt something touch my banC
AT first thought II Imagination, the
by an effort ! turned my head--San
Maria Ito sec miracle. On my GU
stretched hand was fish we cali Il