Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17

of daylight burst upon me. I was on
the banks Of the Maranon.
1t was five or six days since the
Maranon and myself had parted COM
pany, at which time we were hardly
on speaking terms, yet my JOY at
seeing it again on this occasion was
unfeigned; it was like meeting an old
friend.
1t still gave forth the same well
known sound. and was just as trucu-
lent as ever. On all sides were high
hills, unfamiliar and thickly wooded.
but 1t was too late to explore further.
and I contented myself with prepar-
ing a shelter for the night on a little
stretch of soft sand. Here I slept
soundly. away from the horrors of
the forest and with the comforting
thought that tomorrow I would just
follow the river bank to the Ipicus.
and in so doing encounter Indians
who would assist me on the way; the
rest would be easy.
With a light heart and empty sto-
mach 1 set out early the following
morning. but within an hour I was
depths of black despair.
Fate had played me q cruel trick.
The banks of the river were high
masses of rock and quite impossible
In fact, they were a more effective
barrier than any forest. Further to
add to my difficulties. a spur of hills
interviewed between me and my goal,
which. In my weakened state, could
never hope to cross. I was therefore
committed to the only alternative of
remaining where 1 was, on the off,
chance that some passing Indian
might come to my rescue.
l figured out that with reasonable
good luck I could sit still for at least
two weeks with only water to drink,
whereas to launch out into the forest
again meant physical exhaustion and
madness within two days. At the
time 1 felt confident that an Indian
canoe would be sure to pass sooner
or later, since many had passed the
lpicus during my two-oay stay on its
banks.
Little did / know that not far round
the bend was cascade Of such pro-
portions that even an Indian would
not attempt to pass 1t, except once In
a blue moon; but in blissful ignorance
OF this ] settled down to watch and
wait.
The past two days had revealed to
me an aspect of the forest which /
had not come in contact with before
except for a brief hour or two after
disaster had overtaken my party in
the whirlpool. So long as all goes
well there is much to please the eye
and charm the senses in this vast
jungle-garden of the Amazon, but to
the man who is so unfortunate as to
lose his way, or be abandoned by his
men. 1T becomes veritable night
mare, the personification of all that Is
CHASTITY and appalling; one cannot
make the words too strong.
x#
A LONE in these dense green soli-
tudes, harmless as they may
appear, it is the unknown, the I'M
seen, that terrifies. Man feels as If
he were battling with an invisible
monster even more horrible than the
river, because, the latter attacks in
the open and its death rstroke Is reIs-
lively quick. whereas the forest en-
snares its victim in the dark and
slowly draws its coils tighter, till
death comes as a merciful relief.
On the surface around the tree
tops the forest is beautiful. Birds and
butterflies disport themselves in the
sunshine, and nature is seen at her
best. Beneath, away down among the
roots, it is one hideous Struggle for
predominance in the vegetable world.
Man may hack passage through, but
he cannot compete single-handed
against the unseen. His track is soon
grown over again. and only by con-
clear of distractions. -. -.
To founder off the path is suicide.
1t Is only matter of time before he
gets caught in the web that the green
monster has woven about him. Each
struggle to get free only entangles
him to a worse degree, and robs him
of further powers of resistance. The
law of the forest is the same as in
|other walks of life; victory goes to
the strong, and in this case it is man
who ultimately succumbs.
The first few days my desire for
food was absolutely painful. Nothing
'could be found, not even berries or
nuts, to satisfy my longing. Then, as
my insides collapsed and became &C
|customed to an empty state, vague
|drowsy feeling stole over me that was
not disagreeable. My mind, instead of
getting confused. became clear as
|crystal. and with no physical exertion
~ 80 xH1ka