The National tribune., 1898-03-24


himself in a wonderful way, and came
ashore. but the effect produced was
unexpected. His fineTy only excited strong
impulses towards plumber; when, also, he
fired an old Smooth-bore muSket loaded
half way ND TO its muzZle at a monkey and
missed il. the recoiling gun making his
nose bleed, these Carpunas desplsed INN.
As was most necessary, we devoted our
selves to the chiefs, or, in other WORDS,
kent them under cur rifles while baTicrlhe
trinlzets and prismauc calico Tor ieather
ornaments, beautifully made hammocks,
and bows Of pachiuba palm.
When the proper time came, man after
man. warned by my companion, shipped
away and got aboard, until few were ieit.
But then something happened. n long;
shrill cry came from the forest near, ana
rose above the vocferations Of the crowd.
None of us knew what il meant; yet at
once these Indians began 10 vanish. 1hey
did not rush unanimously away, but
silently. sinCly and quickly disappeared,
swallowed up by the enclrchng WOODS.
Soon every shed stood empty-all were
zone. AS we fell back on the vessel with
our remaining men, il was noticed that our
servant Pablo had not appeared. finally
we were told that he had been last seen IN
company with two or three Indian girls on
the verge OF a glade leading none knew
where We could not abandon HIM, yet
going into the forest looked Ike wantonly
sacrificing better men than he. But we
landed our trustworthy natives, gave them
all good arms put the remainder on board,
and started.
The search did not last long. Within a
mile all that was left Of the missing man
Law before us He had been killed shock
inply. and no doubt luTed to his doom.
We could not stay to bury him. The only
things which averted Crisis now were
those magic guns of ours, and our party
made haste 20 leave so dangerous neigh
boThOod.
We iourneyed on, engaged with those
studies whose prosecution had brought us
thither story may be repeated that was
told us at the Salto de GiTao, where IT be
came necessary TO unload and make a
portage OF about a thousand yards.
Night had fallen, and most everybody,
tired with the days work, lay asleep;
but as no one could say at what hlohleht
our campfires might show the forms Of
savage enemies cleaning amidst those
dense shadows with which the forest sur
rounded us my companion and old most
of the guard duty.
While both were yet awake, an elderly
half breed-GomeZ, one OF the cTeW-ap-
pToached and seating himself, proceeded
TO light his cigaret. This was unusual be
havior. and besides that the man appeared
in tIC ube; SO We inquired what allied hun.
No hin, perhaps, he said, though this
vas a. bad place and-had our Excellencles
stance like the panthers scream1-only
much worse, for panthers were angels com
pared with caeporaS, and one Of those
devils shrielled only a little while ago.
What was caepora? A demon, 10 be
sure; an old, very ugly, very big devil
covered with hair, who strangled people,
and rejoicing in human sufierings,
whooped around spots where men had
been done TO death.
Oh yes this was all very certain; also
that over and above evil spirits, brute
Indians, together with wild beasts, had
done much harm at this Salto de Giraox-es
pecially Indians. Several years before
when il paid well 10 bring cargos of sal
for sale i'm the interior by this route, Come
said, he had barely escaped with life a
the very spot We then occupied, and sew
eral Of his comrades persisted. The natives
he said, were engaged TO help carry the
freight, and combined TO murder them
One of the chiefs suddenly enraged him
sell, shouting Tor more beads and cloth
Before any sense could be made Of wha
these SaVageS wanted, an arrow wen
through a friend Of his who wrggled OF
the ground Just as a fish does when il i
pulled out of water. But the leader Of tn
party had brought them under the bank
where they could shoot across an open
and Indians cannot stand being killed q
distance. So after much fighting ant
considerable loss, these demons withdrew
lhefe "aS plehty OF Sclenl!llc WoFk II
THIS region at all times; among other oh
iects, our own men well merited obserya
ton; their manners, customs, physica
characters and states OF mind exhibiting
characteristic phases of development tha
ii would have been inexcusable to come s
far and then neglect. As doctors, all super
sutious beliefs. that is to say, the large
part OF their mental possessions, were opeI
TO US, whom they consulted on ever
case, real or imaginary, at the same tim
expressing their own amazing views. En-
TO them medicine meant magic, not priestl
magic, but another kind with a wide
range, and since none doubted the realit
OF wichcrait and sorcery in all their forms
our influence became after a time yer
powerful.