Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12

South American boa constructor! "A
writhing. twisting snake, eleven feet
long, of light brown color with num-
Der of brown stripes across the back,
light centered rosettes along his sides,
shadings which camouflage very nicely
with the foliage Of the tree. With his
tail caught over a large limb near the
body Of the tree, this giant snake was
swinging across a trail that | was
travelling. through the jungles in South
America, during a visit to that coun-
try few years since.
HAS ORGANIZED PARTY
Located in a little native village,
near the bank Of the Magdalena river,
was killing time and enjoying life
as we'll as it can be enjoyed, when re-
moved from all the conveniences and
luxuries of civilized life. 1t was near
the tropics and the heat was at all
times oppressive, my dress was almost
in conformity with the natives, hardly
worth mentioning; my time was con-
sumed in sleep and an occasional trip
into the jungles, in search OF adven-
ture and information. During my So
journ in this little village had or
ganized a native hunting party OF
seven, which I carried with me at all
times, either in the jungles or punt
ing canoes in the bay0us. My head
bushman was the best posted man in
woods craft that have ever seen. His
assistants were well meaning but
ignorant, hewers of wood and carriers
Of water. He was never at loss on
directions, at home in the jungles day
or night. During the day he had a fund
Of natures signs by which he was
directed. at night the stars and their
location were an open book. He was
courageous. utterly devoid Of fear, the
most satisfactory trailer that / ever
followed. 1t was seldom that he failed
to accurately trail and locate wound
ed animal. This was wonderful to me,
as the jungles were very dense with
but few trails traversins them.
GUIDE DID DIRECTING
He certainly had the balance of my
cavalcade properly "buffaloed': he
so arranged that very little man
ual labor fell to his lot. he
directed the canoe padding and
punting, cutting through the jungles,
at this work his assistants were very
expert; swinging their machetes "a
large knife about two feet long, two
inches wide and very heavy continu-
ously, without firing in the least. My
party were as loyal to me as faith
full dog could have been, ready to make
travel as easy for me as possible,
concession l was willing to accept;
residence in the tropics soon extracts
transplants you over into the chronic
loafer class. This aggregation was
always ready at my call, l really felt
like a nabob with this retlnue OF ser
wants. The head bushman l paid $lo
per day and the balance IS; when 1t is
explained that the amount paid was
In Columbian money. which at that
time was worth one cent on the dollar
OF our American money, my head man
was paid ten cents, while the others
receiyed five cents, a sum total OF forty
cents a day for the outfit, including the
use OF their boats; along the line OF
perouisites, l gave them the alligator
skins and all game that did not want
at my bungalow.
FIND SNAKE ON TREE
On the expedition when the boa
constructor was killed. we were pass
ing through the jungle on our way
to bayou, where ducks had been re-
ported as using; this listened good to
me, wild ducks were sure improve
ment on the sun-cured mutton or
iguana had been eating. I had
visions of a nice teal. rolled in mud
and baked among the hot rocks, until
Il was tender and ready to fall to
pieces: at which time the mud case
would be cracked, which took feathers
and skin, when removed. Two OF my
henchmen were working ahead, clear
ing a trail with their mach etes. We
ia! We-ja! We-ja! was their cry as
they came rushing back to me. My
first impulse was to grab gun from
carrier, not knowing what trouble
to expect, until my Interpreter shout
ed: "a snake" A turn in the path
brought me facing the boa constructor.
described at the opening Of this arti-
Gle. He was suspended from the
tree Immediately over our path, was