The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-01-15


ton, decided that never returned
and We were cautioned to avoid 1t
My companion, Mailer, and myself
these women must belong to the
race of Amazons of which reports
have reached the outer world, and
We made up our minds to inyestl-
gate for ourselves. We questioned
; the natives carefully as to the where
abouts of the village and continued
on our way.
1t was here that we became totally
| lost. Our sense of direction disap-
peared entirely and for days and
days we wandered about time and
time again recrossing our own path.
! After three weeks of this sort OF
thing, during which time two mora
of our men died from fever, we i'm
ally Strengthened ourselves out. By
this time there was but Mailer. my
self and three natives left.
! One evening about sunset, while
making camp, I suddenly became
aware of faint sweet odor that per-
vaded the air. This, however, prov
! ed Elusive, and I could not locate 1t
and I persuaded myself that I was
mistaken. A little later, however,
Mailer called my attention to it. 1t
seemed to come from the north, and
was strange sweet pungent odor.
1t was something very different
than l have ever before smelled. It
had the fragrance of rose and the de-
licacy of lily. 1t smelled as though
| it had it's origin in some great exotic,
but it had a peculiar quantity about
it. 1t had a strange subtle quieting
| influence like a narcotic.
We wondered if We had stumbled
upon that of which we had been
| warned. The next morning we
started northward. AS we advanced
the odor became greater in strength.
We suddenly became aware Of the
uuietude of the surrounding jungle.
Heretofore we had been surrounded
| by animal life. Monkeys and
rodents had thronged the trees and
scampered across our paths chatter
ing at us with the utmost fearless
ness. Now there was none of this,
and animal life was totally absent.
| AS we progressed We came from
time to time upon little mounds of
bones as though whatever it might
have been, man or beast, it had been
overtaken where it was with death.
Farther on we came upon the skeie-
ton of what had been a man.
All this time the smell which had
first been Elusive, subtle and delicate
continued to grow in strength until
! it became sickening in its sweetness.
I suddenly became aware of strange
languor that seemed to enfold me.
Together Mailer and myself pressed
forward eagerly. The smell was nau-
seating, but yet it had an attraction
that was irresistible It was then I,
noticed the actions of my companion.
He walked along like one. in a daze.
His eyes were glazed and they had IN
them a strange stare. Now and again
he staggered like drunken man.
For an instant l wondered, then
the story of the native occurred to
me, and I understood. The mounds
of bones were explained, and the
thought obsessed me that we must
turn back while there was yet time;
but still l continued to go forward
against my will With supreme
effort of the will | turned about
and taking Mahler's arm lead him
back the way we had come. He
seemed more greatly affected, for he
had lost his will entirely, and went
back muttering to himself like
man in a delirium.
It was three days before Mahier
recovered his normal senses, and
when he did, we continued on our
way Making a wide detour to get
away from the vicinity, We struck
to the northwest.
Whether or not the story of the
native about the village of women
is correct, I do not profess to know,
but I proved to my own satisfaction
that there is something in what the
native said, for this plant or what
ever it may be exudes an odor that
is fatal in it's sweetness.
After several weeks journey We
arrived at the Javaru river, and it
was here that our greatest misfor-
tune overlook us. Mailer was
seized with a series of chills that de-
veloped into the dreaded fever. We
made all speed forward, but he rapid
lv became worse Despite the appii-
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