Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-06

continually scratching. All the huts
are infested with the dangerous nigua
which the natives call 'pulga IL
puerca" (pig's anti. The insects cover
pigs as fleas do uncared-for dogs
They get upon the moist floors of the
nuts and seem to have an affinity for
the human foot. They attack no other
portion OF the body. Their bite is not
noticeable. but few days after the
insect has made its Judgement beneath
the skin small lump appears. This
IS the egg sack. 1t must be cut out
Immediately, for II the eggs are per-
mitted to hatch the larvae burrow into
the loot. causing gangrene. which Of
ten makes amputation necessary. The
egg sack Is from one-sixteenth to one
1ourtn OF an inch in diameter when 1t
iirst becomes a nuisance. OF course
there are ticks and mosquitoes innum-
cradle. both in the dwellings, and out.
me paling Is no protection from the
monkeys doleful howl that is incessant
from twilight until dawn. 1t does,
however. insure safety against ia
guars, OF which the Indians have an
almost superstitious dread. Two
nights since l was awakened by one
of these savage beasts scratching on
the logs within six feet of my head.
Although there was nothing to dread,
II seemed prudent to change ends in
the hammock.
This year there is a famine. Dry
weather made the last crop of corn
and beans failure. and an Indian
never lays up against the day of neces-
sity. The jungle affords green plan
tains, that are roasted on the Goals.
In the forests are game birds ofvarious
kinds. wild pigs. and monkeys. The
latter might be relished by the travel
Ter IL the natives, after skinning, did
not cook them whole. The sloughs
abound in fish. These the ma
tives cook in the ashes, without clean
ing. until the skin begins TO peel.
They are then laid away for few
days until they become not only
high" but odoriferous. At this stage
only the face Of starvation can drive
white man to eat them.
This portion of the country Is
sportsman's paradise. The monkey is
too common and too inquistive to give
Zest TO monkey hunting, but ii re-
quires both skill and courage 10 sue
cessfully follow the jaguar and the
wild hog. The avifauna are numer-
Gus. Among other game birds we find
dove as large as the passenger
pigeon and a black pheasant that will
dress from five to six pounds. In both
the Rio Passion and the Rio Sabin l
have found that fish as large and
gamey as the black bass rise readily to
the fly. The lagoons abound in a
species of pickerel that averages three
feet in length.
AT Petexbatum the mountain climb
ing is practically ended, and a level
plain extends for $50 miles north to the
Gulf of Mexico. Long before We could
see the three huts comprised in the
settlement we heard the grooming of
the log cane-press, "A certain indica-
ton that others than Indians We're the
inhabitants. Here We're the same ma
tural resources that We're found at
KaNtaninquila. but the people had no
enterprise. They We're content to
grind Il few armfuls Of cane each day,
and the soft brown pamela is sold To
the natives for 81 per pound. The en-
tire ranch, several leagues square. is
offered for sale for $500. on it there is
q large sulphur deposit. 1t is bounded
on one side by a long lagoon, from
which there is waterway to the Rio
tsumacinta and the Gulf of Cam
peachc. In addition to many species Of
fish. this lake affords large edible tur-
ties and alligators. and in the marshes
about it are ibises, herons. and bit
terms innumerablc. In winter it is
covered with ducks. geese. and swans.
but these birds have long since depart
ed for their northern haunts.
From the Rio Passion northward the
trail is better. Little ranches are
found four or five leagues apart. The
country seems admirably adapted to
the culture of rice, cane and cotton. 1t
is too low for the best grades of cof-
fee and tobacco. For miles We travel
though a district as level as an Illinois
prairie and waving with kncc-deep
grass. Then Il collection of white
washed adobe houses is seen. and we
are glad to rest for day at the COM
munc of La Libertad.