Evening star., 1922-08-20

Dr. Mann was eminently successful
in his quest for new and unheard- of
specimens The field where he ex-
plored had never been visited>bY an
entomologist before. SO that he was
able. many times. to experience the
thrill that comes only to genuine dis
coverers. No person can tell exactly
the number of specimens he brought
back to the rogues' gallery until they
are all unpacked. mounted and classi-
fed. The number. as estimated. is
between 100000 and 100000.
* X
THE scientists did not spend all
their time searching for speci-
mems. They managed to find time to
hunt and fish and to study the Gus
toms of the native Bolivians. Life
in the jungle itself was not altogether
devoid of interest. They found the
region about the Little Rio Negro
river to be the best game country.
The forests there abounded in deer,
jaguars. tapirs, tiger cats, wild hogs,
giant ant eaters, bush turkeys, mon
keys. alligators and giant boa con-
strictors.
After they had been exploring III
the jungle for short time. it was not
at all unusual for one of the party
to remark. casually, "Oh, 1 say, there's
a big snake in that tree yonder." The
others would glance up at the tree in
question, and there they would see 4
boa hanging from a limb. almost in
their path. Familiarity bred con-
tempt, 1T is true. but most of them
were perfectly willing to let Pearson
take care OF the reptiles.
Monkeys. always shy. would scold
and chatter in the tree tops as the
party disturbed their peace and quiet
To catch a full-grown monkey, alive,
is almost a physical impossibility.
Most Of the specimens in our ZOO
logical gardens are captured when
they are very small.
The fishing was not at all bad in
Bolivia. DIR. Mann discovered. The
cannibal fish, he found, had an unfor-
tunate habit Of biting his hooks in
two. Incidentally. there is very little
swimming done in these waters. The
satfish attains considerable size in
South America. Mann caught one on
setline that weighed seventy
pounds. Most of the South American
fish are edible. but usually the flesh
is coarse and not so highly favored
as that of North American varieties.
The native Bolivians do not bother
to bait hook and take a chance on
having it ruined. They shoot their
fish with a bow and arrow. 1t was
always a source of great wonder to
the Americans when they watched an
Indian take deliberate aim and shoot
a fish as it swan through the water.
1t was almost uncanny to see a huge
fish come floundering to the surface,
with an arrow through it's body. when
the Americans could not see even a
shadow to indicate that a fish was
there to be shot at.
The Indians are taught to shoot
fish as soon as they can walk. The
little children are given small bows
and arrows to play with. By the
time they have reached manhood they
are able to shoot with unerring ac-
curacy.
The natives are keen observers of
nature. They are familiar with all
the cries and calls of the animals in
the forest DR.. Mann, on one occa-
sion, heard a native boy initiate the
monkeys call. An answer came from
the distance. The boy replied. and
the call came again, nearer this time.
Finally the monkey appeared at the
edge of the clearing, not realizing
that it was being deceived. The ma
tives know the habits and the hiding
places Of the animals and they can
tell trained naturalists many things
about animals that they never heard
before.
THE rubber industry once fourished
L in the part of Bolivia where DR..
Mann explored. but now there ts very
little activity. 1t does not pay to ship
the rubber to the coast any longer.
Practically all the rubber used by
manufacturers Is cultivated
on large plantations in Singapore.
There is very little for the native In
dams to do but hunt and sleep. The
women do the manual labor tilling
the soil and raising whatever food
they need. Their diet consists largely
Of monkey meat and rice. Bananas
and other tropical fruits are also i'm
portant items on their bill Of fare.
The Indians will soon have to become
for the wild game is dis
appearing rapidly.
DR.. Mann secured many handsome
bits of Indian handiwork by means of
barter He would enter native hut,
and. II he saw an article that inter-
ested him. he would point to 1t. at the
same time holding out some token,
s,lch ~ 4 knife or handful Of car.