The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-15
By ARTHUR MORRIS.
Copyright. 1908, by Arthur Morris.


carsized and the jaguar all but sue
ceedind in gaining it's object. Luckily at
the critical moment, some of the boat
men regained their courage and with
Well-aimed blows of their paddles on
the animals head they stunned and
finally killed it. Revolvers We're use
less, for the crew and the animal were
at such close quarters that the white
men dared not shoot
Each night the boat was pulled
ashore and the party slept on the
river bank. The first night was typi-
cal of all the others spent in the Jun
gle. A myriad of all sorts of insects
made sleep we'll nigh impossible and
tortured the men-both white and
blacksmith their bites. The fires which
were kept burning all night long to
scare away Jaguars and other beasts of
prey, whose roars were heard all about
in the forest, only served to attract
more mosquitoes. 1t was almost a
case of being eaten to death in small
moutbfuls instead of large ones. Not
a moment o. light was passed without
one of the Englishmen on guard with
rifle and revolVers at his side.
A MutinOus Crew.
AS the boat went farther and farther
up the river and away from ciyiliza-
ton, the boatmens courage oozed
more and more, until at last they
broke out into open mutiny, DECLARING
that they would no longer pierce into
the unknown. Feeling secure in their
numbers, they actually turned the
boat around and headed it for Bartica
Then the Englishmen, backed by the
captain, drew their revolvers.
zone stroke of the oars toward
Bartica and wen shoot" they threat
ened.
For a few moments the negroes hes
itated, until suddenly the hulkins
Leader of the mutineers raised his pad
ole and aimed it to strike at the near
est white man. The next instant
he was knocked senseless and out
OF the boat with the butt end OF
the captains rifle. That ended the
mutiny, but after that the boatmer
were constantly watched for fear that
they would endeavor to steal the boat
and leave their employers alone in the
forest to starve.
Threatened by Indians.
The first adventure with the Indians
as savage and primitive as in the days
of Columbus and the Spaniards. oc-
Cured shortly afterwards.
Early one morning, as the boat was
close to the river bank, after gazing
suddenly appeared, and, after gazing
in blank establishment at the white peo-
pie, the first he had ever seen. threat
ened them with his blow pipe When
the boat was headed toward him. how
ever, he turned and fled into the bush
He rushed along a little creek, which
branched from the main river, so the
Englishmen decided to explore this
creek in the hope of finding village
establishing friendly relations with the
Indians and getting one of them for g
guide.
Entering the creek, they rowed SLOWLY
along dense wall of mangrove tree!
in search of a passage through the
dense tropical vegetation. At last they
found one, and assembled the creek slow.
ly. The stream rapidly narrowed, and
the mangroves, which grew on either
bank, intertwined their branches, thus
forming thick arch of tropical vege.
tation through which the suns rays
could not penetrate. At last they
reached a spot which seemed to be
landing place, for a few "dugout" ca.
noes were drawn up on a shelving; san.
dy beach.
They got out of the boat and followed
narrow trail, which took them to q
hillock completely covered with trees
and well nigh impenetrable under.
growth. Through this maze they cut
their way with machetes and came or
a small, palm thatched hut, surrounded
by palm trees and a patch of cassava.
Here lived an old Indian with his
family. The Englishmen made signs OF
friendship, but, surprised and terrified
at their first sight of white men, they
fed helter-skelter into the jungle, leav-
ing behind them only a smoldering stick
fire, over which they had been cooking
their meal of fish caught from the
creek.
Pursuing their search the explorers
came upon another little cabin, bull
of poles stuck in the mud and covered
with palm leaves. Some naked Indiar
women were sitting here. with theil
children. The party advanced, max
ing signs of friendship and displa yins
blankets and beads, but the women
throwing themselves in front of theil
children, menaced the strangers with
their reed blow-pipes. Knowing thai
the darts in these blow-pipes are al
ways poisoned, the invaders came tc
a dead stop. Seeing their opportunity
the women caught up their babies
their baskets, their hammocks, and al
their provisions, and fled into the jun
gle.
There was an old woman who could
not run, and she sat patiently, expect
ing instant death, it was afterwards
explained. The Englishmen treated
her kindly, gave her food and pres
ents, and told her. through an Indian
in the crew, that they meant well
Thus won over. she went into the
forest and persuaded the others to re-
turn. Soon the three whites were be-
sieged by several scores of Indians, all
eager to look at the strange creatures
and the wonderful things they had
brought with them. BY judicious
distribution of hatchets. knives. beads
and blankets, friendship was estab-
lished and a guide was secured, who