Year: 1873

have frequently related to friends the
adventure which am about to describe,
but Of which l have not before written an
account for publication. am now in
duced to do so by the assurance that it
may prove interesting TO the naturalist, as
well as TO the general reader.


1t occurred many years ago, on the
Isthmus, during journey which I made
from Cruces to Panama in company with
q Mr.. -, member of banking firm Of
the latter city. Mounted on mules, we
started from Cruces, on the old Bucca-
neer's road connecting the two sides Of the
Isthmus at the points above named. My
travelling companion was well acquainted
with the country through which we were
to pass, and consequently, all to him was
matter-offact and commonplace exper-
ience. Simply enjoining me, therefore, to
keep close to him, and not to wander from
the road, as IL was dangerous, he took the
lead in plunging into the wilderness.


After converting for some time upon
the strange history of the road over which
we were travelling, for it was constructed
several hundred years ago, by the bucca-
neeD, who for long time constituted the
most formidable maritime power of the
New World, the conversation Jagged, and
finally ceased, as is apt to be the case with
travelling companions who have talked
themselves out. But | was beginning to
be absorbed by the contemplation Of the
new fora and fauna which was spreading
out before me. The lover of nature only
acquainted with the forests Of the temper
ute regions, can form no adequate concsp-
tion Of the grandeur and luxuriance Of
those Of the tropics, nor Of the number and
variety of their deniEens. ! was especial
ly interested In the latter Strange and
varied forms of animal life were contin-
ually presenting themselves to my eye, or
indicating their existence to my ear, be-
meath, around and above me. Monkeys Of
all sorts and sizes grimaced at me from
the trees, or deafeaed me with their angry
exclamations, as If protesting against hu-
man intrusion into solitudes which they
claimed as their own through unknown
ages. Birds Of strange and graceful forms
and Of bright and varied plumage birds
which arc not described or pictured on the
pages Of Audubon or Wilson, glanced
meteor-like from tree to tree, or hoated in
dreamy splendor through the upper air.
Occasionally the minstrelsy of these bright
warblers, and the many voices Of animated
nature Immediately around me, were mo-
mentarily hushcd by deep sound which
proceeded from distant part of the forest,
and announced that the jaguar, or so-called
American tiger, had seized It's prey, and
that a death-struggle was now in progress.
Amid this scene Of superabundant life and
joy it should have needed but this appall-
ing sound to enforce the injunctions Of
my travelling companion to keep close to
him, and not to wander from the road


But seeing and hearing all these wonders
for the first time, how was l to think Of
anything else but the enjoyment, the rap
ture, which the contemplation afforded :?
was, however, about to receive an ad-
monition to the same effect from another
source, moro likely TO be needed.


About midway between Cruces and Pan
anna, my attention was attracted by spring
which bubbled in wild mountainous gorge
Tothis fountain numerous paths conducted,
undoubtedly beaten by the footsteps of the
myriads of creatures which people the sur
rounding wilds. A watering place in the
wilderness. A watering place not at all
resembling those of man, but which yisi.
tors approached with cautious hesitating
steps and prying gaze, and often in num-
ben Of their own kind sufficient for mutu-
al defense. A watering place ambushed
IN every jungle beneath and every leAfy
covert overhead by enemies 10 animal life.
A watering place where music and merry
making are unknown, but where instead
che ffightfal roar and the despairing shrek
of the voiceless death-struggle may be
L. "a A. M -