New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-14

OUR SEARCH FOR WiLpEfttST ESo-
peditions to VeneZusla, and to British
Guiana. By Mary Blair Beeoe ana {.
William Beebe- Illustrated. 12no, PIP
AnS Henry Holt & Co.
The story Of the expeditions Of these
two naturalists in South America is a
fascinating one. No reader who ap-
preciates the delightful surprises or
tropical exploration and the charm that
lies in the study of wild nature can turn
these pages with indifference. The ex-
element of interest with which this pair
travelled through these forest wonder
lands Of Venezuela and Guiana is con-
tasious: the thrill with which they hap
pen upon strange and rare animal or
plant life is communicable. They tell
their story very well, with simplicity
and often with humor and with good
use of the proper picturesque detail
Especially entertaining is Mrs. Beebe's
description OF their Journey through the
Venezuelan wilderness to the famous
Pitch Lake. Their little sIoop made it's
way up the winding river under the
overilanging nangroves, along banks OF
vines and brilliant flowers, and at every
turn something amusing happened One
Interesting parsonage on board was
Maestro, the cook, a dusky gentleman
of teu1per so iniammatory that upon one
occasion he was not backward in draw
ing a huge cutlass on the old Spanish
captain. Here is a picture Of Maestro
at work drawn by Mrs. Beebe: II often
shut my eyes and see him with stream
ing eyes stirring some fearful connection
over the little stove; OF again on his
knees mixing dough for the leaden
dumplings to be boiled in the pig tail
stew which appeared at every meal.
We so often wished that we had brought
graham flour. White flour does show
the dirt so. Still another picture is
Maestro washing the tablecloth This
was a piece Of oilcloth originally white
and Maestro's method of washing 1t
was to spread it on the deck. pour water
over it. dance upon it in his bare feet,
to the accompaniment of some weird
chant. and finally hang it on the rail
TO dryi No doubt after this proceeding
he felt as self-satisfied as the most
pompous and we'll trained English but
Ter" The traveller notes in justice to
Maestro that he could boil the native
vegetables we'll and could cook good
cornnnearmush and with her own stores
of preserved foods there was no danger
of starvation. In the evening the old
captain would tell tales Of his youth
and of strange people Of those Southern
forests:
He told US OF aged men and women, both
among the Indians and the Spantards. VINO
call together all the snakes in the vicinity
and then by incantatiors so hypnotize them
that they can be handled with lmpunlty
The owner OF g hacienda Will sone1I;lrnes
employ one Of these charmers to call to-
sether the snakes, which can then be
killed. The performers themselves. how,
ever. will never harm snake. lie too
many = story of black magic arts, IN winch
ne firmly believed, OF sending TO ones
enemies scoureeS OF rats or deadly diseases
or departed spirits to make life unbearabie.
The travellers, pausing at the head
quarters of the Pitch Lake company.
found themselves in reasonably civilized
comfort among Venezuelans who were
nothing If not patriotic. Witness such
statements at the dinner table as
Venezuela leads not only all the South
North America as well, in literature, art,
science and commerce When our Gen
eral Blank went to New York the
greatest ovation ever paid any general
ir the world was given him. New York
remained amazed
Those who fear the fevers Of tropical
forests and swamps will be interested
to learn that the explorers felt no i'll
effects, though they worked hard at the
collectors tasks. Proper dress, proper
food and a wise adherence to the
mosquito net at night are safeguards.
The worst enemy they found was that
''fiendish little beast the bette rouge.
the little red mite OF the forest The
most brilliant conversation is apt TO
faIter and fail when the takers ankles
are devoured by the bette rouge-then all
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