The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-15
DIAMOND HUNTING In GUIANA.
MANY PERILS OF PROSPECTORS
IN TIE FOREST.
Adventures Of q Party OF Ensiishmen
An Attack by JaEuar-Mutny OF
Boatmen--Deadly Blow Pipes OF IN
dians-shooting the EsseQuibo Rapids.

An Attack by n Jaguar--Nutiny OF
Doatmen--Deadly blow Pipes OF In
dians-shootinE the EsseQuibo Rapids
Hundreds OF miles beyond the outposts
of civilization In British Guiana many men
are daring death In various forms III 'ns"'
tropical forests TO work the lately discoV-
cred diamond fields.
For three years, ever since some Indians
from the interior appeared in Georgetown
with several diamonds and Story 'na'
they had been found in gravel IN the IN
terror this quest for riches has been gong
on. Often prospecting expeditions are
successful and return from at the back Oh
beyond with thousands OF dollars worth
of nrecious Jewels belted around the bodies
of the leaders But often an e1peoitioh
leaves Georgetown or Bartica to go up one
of the three rivers Leading 70 oiainohu
field and never comes back
1t Ia hardly possible to pick up George
town newspaper without seeing such head
lines as another Boating Disaster in the
Fssequibo Rapids Diamond Hunters
Starved to Death Along the Mazarini,
or A Diamond Expedition Attacked by
Indians Along the Cuyani.
Bad as they are, these are only three OF
the dangers that threaten every diamond
hunter. As matter Of fact, so numerous
are the perils that heavy toll in lives Is
being constantly paid for the jewels that
are finding their way from the heart OF the
Jungle to the seacoast. 1t has been esti-
mated that for the 1907 diamonds dis
covered and declared during the year end
ing June 30. 1902, ?6t lives were sacrificed,
or two for every thousand Of the precious
stones.
Here Is the story Of party that did get
back TO civilization with whole skins. but
only after encountering remarkable
series of adventures. What these men
endured Is typical OF the perils that threaten
eyerv man who seeks his fortune in the new
diamond land.
Three young Englishmen-Thorpe Jer-
rold and Hodge-led the expedition, which
was the first to penetrate up the head
waters OF the Cuyani. In the summer OF
1901, while they were In Georgetown one
Of the trio made a strong friend OF An old
and withered Indian, who had come from
the border land Of Venezuela, by giving
him a eaudy trle. Some days later the
old fellow hunted up the white man.
Il have not forgotten your kindness
10 me, seflor,' he said, and now ! shall
reward you'll shall tell you secret OF
nv tribe Hundreds OF miles to the west,
up the Cuyani, near where the Caruno JOINS
II. arc big diamond fields
MANY years ago. when my grandfather's
grandfather, and his grandfather lived.
the Spaniards came and cleared away the
underground and dug in the gravel and
found diamonds. I have seen the place
myself. sefior-the jungle has never grown
over Il TO this day.
1T is Just a big slice out OF tho forest, as
n cut with knife OF the great God and you
cannot possibly fail TO find II II you go there
and search. And then you will come back
rich and a great man.
The fre Of adventure and the hope OF
wealth thus kindled by the Indians tale.
the three Englishmen decided to search
for the mine, which. according to their
information. must have been excavated
70 paying gravel in the time OF Alonzo de
Ojeda. They at once set about organizing
the expedition and two weeks later they
struck out from Bartica for the little known
reaches Of the Cuyani in a thirty nine foot
river boat, with two months supply OF pro-
visions, trinkets for the savages they might
meet, and q crew Of eighteen negroes and
mulattos and Indians. each secured for
The expeditions first adventure occurred
on the morning Of the first day. The boat
was gliding swiftly through the water with
scarcely ripple at the bow, The bostmen
ke6plnR tifu6 70 INC tuuC WIN thO
swish-6ang Of their paddles, were singing
one Of their favorite chanties:
bamboo ere. bamboo ore.
Ban boo nre mex so.
ban 200 g.. S Ss 20 pot
Ram boo ere boil 70 salt nsh.
Ban boo are. bamboo FIRE.
Bamboo nre mex So
Suddenly, straight ahead, where the
river narrowed, a large jaguar appeared
-. al
EnglislImen who sat In the boats stern
fired at the beast and wounded 1t slightly
Infuriated, IL turned. made for the boat, and
reaching IL endoavored 70 Chamber in.
In the excitement the boat almost cap
sized Luckily at the critical moment,
some OF the boatmen with well-aimed
blows Of their paddles on the animal
head stunned and finally killed IL.
Each night the boat was pulled ashore
and the party slept on the river bank The
first night was typical u all the others
spent In the Jungle A myriad 81 all sorts
81 insects made sleep well nigh impossible.
and tortured the men, both ~hito and black
with their bites.
The fires which wers kept burning ell
night long Ia scare away gaguaIs and other
beasts u prey. whose roars we're heard
all about In the forest, only served To
attrac, more ni'sqlltoes. vas almost a,.
mouthfuls instead Of large once
A. tlis boat went further and further
up the river and away from civilization,
the boAtInen's courage oOlcd more and
more, until at last they broke out into oIsn
nutlhy. declaring that they would no
longer travel l.to tie unknown. Then
the fnglishmsl. backed ~ uis captain.
drew their TeYolyeTs
'Ons stroke 81 the oars uDsaTd bartloA
AMI 90 u shod.' ulry ufo.tened
For q fex n,ognants tho i.esfuss hesi,sted
Until suddenly the leader n tho nutll.sers
Islssd hls I.Addls and aimed u 60 strike at
the nasrs~l sLlts man Tho peat Instant
he sss ksoesad safssls>s Ant uui ~ Ito
Losi 9th tie huii end n the oaIaain's
Uds That shaod the inuiiny loot aficI
thaf tic bsatn,sa we're oulst.isily aialad
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