Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-04

tales of fabulous perils infestine it's
Course The trade of the district in
creased hrndrcdfold within a year
Savases gave the explorer conpara.
lively little trouble On one occnsion
he was attacked on one bank OF the
river and pushed across to the other.
Here he was met by a second flight OF
arrows. With both sides pre-cmpted
by natives. there was nothing left for
the travellers but the middle So the
little boat pushed out into shallow
water. and the occupants took turns
standing In tho bed of the river. and
holding the boat. through the night
Next morning they pushed on. On an
other occasion the cannibals terrified
the native Interpreter. who was then
still with the party by discussing his
edible properties in his presence--he
was fat and tempting youth-hu, the
greatest difficulties arose from the In.
adequacy of the outnt which the OK
plorcr Was forced TO use for lack OF a
better.
I.enky Bont n Ainrm Clock.
The ieaky boat Was source Of great
trouble. One night when II WAS badly
in need Of fresh caiking IL leaked so
rapidly that DR.. Heath had to sleep in
It, When the water rose around him 1t
would awaken him and he would bale
II out
The creates, misfortune befer the
party on account Of the clumsiness of
the two Indians. who seem TO have
been distinguished for their sterling
characters rather than a surplus OF in
tellisencc. Tho boat got into rapid
water below great fall. and Dr.
Heath sent his companions ashore
with bow and stern lines, while he
stayed aboard. The Indians warmed 10
their work and hauled enthusiastic
cally that the resistance of the cur
rent ducked the nosc of the boat under
and swept all the contents into a whirl-
pool below tho falls.
The situation was serious They
were 325 miles from any approach to
civilization Their axes and machetes
had sunk Their rife and instruments
were. luckily, on the bank. but they
were afraid 10 shoot the latter. Their
ox-hide of food and their paddles
they had no means TO cut new ones-
were whirling round and round I'm the
rushing current. There Was only one
thing TO do. Dr. Heath stripped and
plunged after them.
The Indians implcred him TO return.
not only because OF their affection for
him. but also, as they told him, be
cause II they returned without him no.
body would believe he had drowned in
a whirlpool. and they would be suspect
ed. But he succeeded in clutching the
ox-hidc. and after being carried around
the whirlpool several times, fought his
way TO shore with it. Then he return
ed for the paddles He recovered two.
but one had sunk. IT was necessary
10 replace it by lahoriousiy charring a
new one out Of solid wood with nre.
Ate Monkeys md Branches.
The three men found themselves very
short OF food. They ekcd out their
diet for the rest Of the trip with an
occasional monkey and by breaking of
branches from native palm tree.
whose pith is inhabited by large. juicy
worms The Indians ate them raw.
but DIR. Heath. with the fastidiousness
of the American. always roasted his.
Pushing on through difficulties such
as these. the expedition continued Its
mapping and gathering Of data. The
country proved very rich. The annual
rise of the river foods thousands OF
square miles OF surrounding territory.
a condition very favorable to the
growth OF the hes: rubber. The low
lands make excellent pa sturage ut low
water seasons, and during food tho
cattle retreat to scattered hills. which
then become islands The vegetation
is tall and dense. In some cases II
will show growth of twelve feet
year. Bird and animal life abounds.
DR.. Heath often met jaguars while out
gathering specimens, armed only with
Il butterfly net.
To-day the route the explorer blazed
along the Beni is regularly navigated
and source of great wealth to Bo-
! livia The cannibals are gradually be-
ing won over by fair treatment. and
some Of them have become rubber
gatherers. The wealth of nature was
waiting. 1t need d only an intrepid
and daring man to show that the OBJ
stacles in the way could be overcome.
Or. Heath was that man; and the Bo-
| livinn government is properly crate.
full. River Heath is well named.
|