The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-19

ing O. dance at Morocco AS WE Az
pressed wish to go there the boats
were soon headed in the direction OF
| the sounds. and after passing nm and
down severai narrow channels we could
see the lights and the dancers with
their Fantastic head-dresses of feath-
ers. Their wild singing was the only
music they had besides the drum.
I which was beaten so vigorously as TO
| almost drown every other sound The
dance was held I'm alm-thatched hut.
built upon dry ground, clearly an ISL
and. IT was the first dry land we had
seen since leaving Pedernales Per-
ceiving that most of the dancers were
drunk, and that our men would soon
be in the same state IL we remained.
we hurriedly got back in the boats and
put on into the darkness,-much to
the annoyance OF the Indians and sail
ors, who would have liked nothing bet
ter than weeks carousing at Moro
col. For two hours more we kept on
the move; but at last the boats got
separated, nor did we see Wayman any
more till we met him at Buja That
night we tried to sleep in the boat as
she lay tied to the branches, but the
mosquitoes prevented sleep and kept
US In a fever of annoyance. In addi-
ton to this we could not tell when a
prowling jaguar might come sneaking
In and carry off one of us; for strange
these watery forests. Some hours be-
fore we had stopped to rest, we had
heard them roaring to each other
across the water.
When the first signs OF daybreak be-
gan to appear we got under way. The
woods had now quite a different an
pearance; the mangrove grew only in
spots, and as we proceeded Ii entirely
disappeared. The trees were now of
various kinds. Some in fruit some I'm
Hover, but all In leaf, and matted one
to another by dense masses of vines
ana creepers, and upon branches and
vines alike. orchids and other epiden-
drous grew in profusion. The channel |
was now wider and in ii were many |
small islands of water plants and flow |
cry shrubs. Whether they afforded firm |
ground for walking was not at first |
but we soon became aware |
of their nature. Having shot some |
monkeys. we stopped the boat and |
tried to get them. The endeavor was
not successful, for, though wounded. /
they could get away through the tan
gled thicket much quicker than we
could. L got back from the branches
into the boat and sat there a moment
surveying our surroundings.
How is this?" said the negro sailor.
I'VE are drifting over to that island'i
translated his remark to the Indians.
and they laughed heartily; for they
both had hold of branches, keeping the
boat perfectly still. In fact the island
was drifting to us-it was a floating
Island. Waterlilies and lotos flowers
made garland round it's margins
Bright blossomed shrubs grew over its
and across it's center lay a
giant tree dead and water-soaked, and
)n the trunk a snake some seven feet
ong lay coiled and basking in the sun.
He was n herpetodryas carinatus |
lnaIIt fully foInraH In a
As we stayed where we were the island
irifted by; but the snake took fright, |
Ind glided off through the water He |
oon reappeared, however, on another
sland in midstream. We went after
lin but failed to get him; for these
loating Islands were mere collections
II driftwood and water plants, with
ines and shrubbery fiourishing among
hem. Soon came on another snake
lie was cooled on a branch which hung
veil out over the channel, about IL feet
.bove the surface. When L proposed
o run the boat underneath, and at
empt to take him alive, the Indian
arSmen almost rose in mutiny. Well
ERECTED eloquence gained my point.
With fearful misgivinRs they at last
onsented to run the boat beneath the
ranch.
Catch hold of the lower branches"
aid /, and keep the boat as steady as =
~ N1i. iOu VIII not DE IN danger. Y
nd l will soon have him by the neck" =
s soon as the boat was steady / stood =
p, and threatening the whole COMPANY =
18th my knife if they should upset me. .
began to haul down slowly the branch :,
n which the snake was sleeping. -
Take care" said the Indians, "he is a :,
cry poisonous and treacherous kind
nd II you fail he will come in the :,
Dat and kill some one" Never mind" n
hid /, II know him. Only keen the ! :
pat steady and all will be we'll"
l saw the snake was a corallus cool,u =
yellow tree boa, everywhere regard %
as extremely venomous. but in real ci
y perfectly harmless, although a dew e,
at biting. He was asleep, as his u
ma always are by daylight, and was "
er