The Wanderers; Or, Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and Orinoco

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  CAPTURE OF A YOUNG MACAW--THE POTTERY MANUFACTORY AND OTHEREMPLOYMENTS--THE INDIARUBBER OR SERINGA TREE--HOW UNCLE PAUL MADE OURSHOES--THE IGUANA--CAPTURE A CURASSOW AND A TAPIR--MARIAN'S ENCOUNTERWITH THE LABARRI SNAKE--A LAUGHABLE SCENE.

  Quacko and Ara, though the only idle members on our estate, were,contrary to the usual rule, perfectly happy, and certainly afforded usall constant amusement. Tim observed that they were growing conceited,and thought too much of themselves. He proposed, therefore, to try tocatch a few more pets, in order to teach them to behave properly, and toshow them that they were not of so much importance as they were inclinedto suppose. Tim, whenever he could get away from work, was fond ofmaking exploring expeditions on either side of the settlement. He haddiscovered, not far off, the roosting-place of a flock of macaws, andhad determined to capture one. I reminded him of the way Arthur and Ihad been attacked when we had attempted to rob their nests on GroveIsland.

  "To be sure, Master Guy; but it will be a very different matter here,"he answered. "We shall be on firm ground, and able to use our legs ifthey attack us; for, as you see, they are all perched up on the trees,and will not be inclined to come off for the sake of looking after afriend or two who may tumble to the ground."

  Tim had told Kallolo of his intention, and we all set off together,Kallolo with his blowpipe, Tim and I with our bows and arrows. Tim, inaddition, carried a long mat fastened at one end, a string being drawnthrough the other. Kallolo told us, as he went along, that had hepossessed some salt he should have had no difficulty in catching as manymacaws alive as we might wish for; but as yet we had not discovered thatnecessary of life.

  We soon reached the birds' roosting-place; but no sooner did they see usthan, contrary to Tim's expectations, they all arose and began circlinground our heads, screaming vociferously. Kallolo, looking on calmly,did not shoot. Tim and I let fly a couple of arrows, but both missed.At last the birds began to settle down, and I again shot an arrow, whendown tumbled a young macaw. The missile had passed through its wing.Away it scuttled, uttering loud shrieks from pain and terror. Tim and Imade chase, he holding the mat with the joined part in front ready tothrow over the bird. We quickly overtook it, when, finding that itcould not escape, it turned round and did battle bravely for itsliberty, attempting to bite our legs with its sharp beak; but Tim's sackwas speedily over it, and drawing the string, he had it a closeprisoner. Meantime Kallolo had brought down three of its companionswith his deadly blowpipe. Though they struggled at first, they speedilysuccumbed to the effects of the poison, and were tied by the feet andslung over his back.

  Laden with our prizes we returned homewards. The dead birds were atonce stripped of their feathers, spitted, and placed before the fire toroast for supper; for had they been allowed to cool they would haveproved somewhat tough, but treated as they were they were perfectlytender. The live macaw was allowed to remain in the bag all night, whenits spirit being somewhat quelled by hunger, we gave it some nuts, whichit took readily; and in the course of the day it consented to come outand get a string tied round its leg. At night it went to roost; and bythe next morning it was perfectly tame, and willingly took the fruit andnuts offered it. Its plumage was blue and yellow; and though not sopretty as some of its more gaily-coloured relatives, as its temperimproved it became a great favourite.

  We had by this time erected a complete village of huts. The goodcaptain and his mate, that we might have more room, had built one forthemselves. Tim and Sambo put up another, and the three Indians erecteda fifth. They had no pretensions to architectural beauty, but werequite sufficient for all the shelter required in that warm climate. Forour dining-hall we had an open shed, where we were sheltered from therays of the sun. We were also making good progress with the vessel: thestem and the stern, with several ribs, had already been fixed. Cuttingout the ribs with the scanty tools we possessed was a slow process; anda Dutchman alone could have conceived the possibility of succeeding insuch an undertaking, with the numerous difficulties to be encountered.

  "Never fear, my friends; we will do it," the skipper was continuallysaying. "Only take care not to break the axes. If we do, we shall haveto work with our knives. But remember it could be done even then; onlywe should be much longer about the job. `Slow and steady wins therace.'"

  Slow our work certainly was, but every day saw some progress. While thecaptain and Peter were working at the timber, the rest of us weresmoothing down the planks; and we had now a large pile ready to fix onas soon as the ribs were set up. My father, Marian, and I wereimproving in the manufacture of matting. We could not, however, make itof sufficient strength for the sails; still, the material wemanufactured would serve to form a roof for the cabin, or it might dofor kilts or for cloaks.

  We had established several other manufactories. A pottery was thefirst. Fortunately, we had found some clay well adapted for ourpurpose; and my father was acquainted with the principles of the art andthe mode of working. A small kiln was first put up; and we then,kneading our clay, formed it into vessels of various shapes and sizes.Our great object was to burn some sufficiently hard to serve for cookingpurposes. We cracked a good many, and it must be confessed they wereall somewhat rough and unshapely; but we improved in that respect, andeventually succeeded in producing several pots which stood the fireremarkably well. At Uncle Paul's desire, we also formed a number ofsmall cups, though he did not at the time tell us for what object herequired them.

  He had not forgotten his promise to supply us with shoes when oursshould be worn-out. We had for some time been going about with barefeet. We found it, however, both painful and dangerous to wanderthrough the forest with our feet unprotected. I reminded him one day ofwhat he had undertaken to do.

  "I have not forgotten it, and will at once fulfil my promise," heanswered. "Come with me into the forest; before we start, however, youmust pack up the small pots you made at my request the other day."

  "What are they for?" I asked.

  "You shall see when we arrive at the manufactory," he answered.

  We set out towards the west. After having proceeded some way we found,scattered here and there among the other trees, a number of trees ofgreat height, and from two to three feet in diameter. The trunks wereround and strong, and the bark of a light colour, and not very smooth.Their summits did not spread wide, but their appearance was especiallybeautiful, from their long, thin leaves, which grew in clusters of threetogether, and were of an ovate shape, the centre one rather more than afoot in length, the others a little shorter.

  "These are seringa trees," said Uncle Paul, pointing them out. "It iswith the sap which proceeds from them that I purpose to manufacture ourshoes."

  I stared with astonishment, for I saw that he was not joking. He nowtook the pots, to which strings had been fastened, and secured two orthree to each tree by small pegs, which he took out of his pocket.Above each peg he made a deep incision with his stone axe, and almostimmediately a milky substance began to ooze out and drop into the pots.Taking some himself, he bade me taste it, assuring me that it wasperfectly harmless. Its taste was agreeable,--much like sweetenedcream, which it resembled in colour.

  We went on from tree to tree, cutting deeply into the bark of each, andhanging up our pots till we had exhausted all we carried. This beingdone, all hands under his direction set to work to build a hut; and hethen bade the Indians search for a nut of a peculiar palm which wasrequired for the operation.

  These preliminary operations being concluded, we returned to thesettlement, where Uncle Paul set us to work to form several lasts suitedto the size of the feet of the different members of the party. He madea pair for Marian; but the rest of us, he said, must be content withshoes of the same shape for both feet; and though very rough, and notvery well shaped, they would answer our purpose. We had not time tobestow much labour on them.

  Next morning we again set out, carrying this time a couple of largebowls, which, Uncle Paul
said, would be required. On arriving at thehut, he placed one of them on the ground, and then piled up inside thehut a number of the palm-nuts collected on the previous day. Havingsurrounded them with stones, he placed the bowl, in the bottom of whicha hole had been made, in an inverted position on the top of them. Wenext went out to collect the pots we had hung up on the seringa trees.They were all full of juice, and were brought to the hut and emptiedinto the other bowl. This done, we took the pots back and hung them upagain. The lasts we now smeared with clay, of which some had been foundat hand. The nuts were lighted, and a dense white smoke ascendedthrough the hole in the bottom of the bowl. One of the lasts, to whichwooden handles had been fixed, we now dipped into the bowl ofindiarubber juice; and when it was drawn out, a thin layer of juice wasfound adhering to it. On being held over the smoke this quickly dried,and became rather darker than at first. The process was repeated adozen times, till the shoe was of sufficient thickness; care being takento give a greater number of coatings to the sole. We found, after alittle time, that the various operations required about five minutes,--then the shoe was complete. One after another the lasts were dipped inthe same way; and the shoes were then hung on cross sticks which hadbeen put up outside the hut, that they might be exposed to the sun.There being no risk of our shoes being stolen, we left them, andreturned home as before, having plenty of occupation for the rest of theday.

  Next morning we went back to the hut, and having collected the juicewhich had in the meantime trickled into the pots, we finished off theshoes which had been made on the previous day; and having scored thesoles to prevent them from slipping, we cut them off the lasts, whichwere thus ready again for use. We now manufactured some more shoes andleft them to dry, carrying with us those which had just been finished.Marian was delighted with hers, which were very soft and elastic, thoughthey would not do to walk far in.

  We had now not only the means of making shoes, but bottles and cups; andUncle Paul even thought of manufacturing a material which would serveinstead of cloth, and might be formed into cloaks and kilts, if nottrousers--though, as he had no substance to lay it on, he was afraidthat it would easily tear. We agreed, however, that, except in rainyweather, the matting was likely to prove the more useful article.

  We were returning from our indiarubber manufactory the next day, when wesaw an object moving among the boughs of a tree at no great distancefrom us. Tim ran forward to ascertain what it was.

  "Arrah now, if it's not a live alligator, I don't know what it is," heexclaimed. "It's my belief that the baste has climbed up into the treethat he may pounce down upon us as we pass by."

  "No fear of that," answered Uncle Paul. "Alligators, although theyventure out of the water, never go far from it. The creature you see,large as it looks, is only an iguana, a sort of lizard which lives intrees; and though it is ugly to look at, it is said to be very good toeat, so we will try to get the gentleman."

  On getting under the tree, we saw what certainly looked like a hugelizard, about four feet in length, including its long tail. The treenot being a large one, we shook it, when down came the creature to theground. In spite of its rather formidable appearance, Tim dashed boldlyforward and caught it by the neck and the small of the back, and held itfast. It lashed about very fiercely with its tail, its only weapon ofdefence, as its teeth, though numerous, were small. Uncle Paul havingformed a noose, slipped it over the creature's head and told me to holdit tight while he made another, which he dexterously threw over itstail. Tim and I then going ahead began to drag it along; and though itmade some resistance, we at length got it to the settlement.

  As we knew that Marian would like to see it alive, Uncle Paul went tocall her. The creature, with its huge dewlap, ugly face, long claws,and row of spines on its back, looked indeed truly formidable. Marian,who with Arthur and our father soon came, recollecting all about thealligator, cried out under the idea that it might break loose and attackus. Just at that moment the after-rope, which Tim was holding loosely,slipped off the tail of the creature; when finding that member atliberty, it began to lash about with it on every side. Timthoughtlessly rushed forward to seize it; but it gave him a cut on theleg, which brought him to the ground howling with pain; and had notUncle Paul hauled him out of the creature's way, he might have receiveda still more serious blow. As it showed an inclination to inflictfurther damage, Sambo coming up speedily despatched it by a blow on thehead. Ugly as it looked, he assured us that it would afford us mostdelicious food; and at dinnertime we found his prediction amplyfulfilled. We had become so accustomed to eat odd-looking creatures,that however repulsive the appearance of an animal, we never hesitatedto try it; and we agreed that we should have no objection to eat anotheriguana as soon as one could be caught.

  Kallolo was our chief hunter; and Arthur and I, when we could spare timefrom our regular work, were glad, for the sake of variety, to go outwith him. We were walking along the shore of the lake, when from thetop of a low tree a huge bird, its plumage chiefly black, with a crestof curled feathers on its head and a white breast, flew off over thewater.

  "We have lost the bird, but we will try to find something instead," saidKallolo, giving me his blowpipe and bow to hold. He then climbed up thetree till he reached the bird's nest, from which he extracted two eggs,and brought them down safety. They were considerably larger than aduck's egg, white and granulated all over, though the bird itself didnot appear to be above the size of an ordinary duck. It was, I found, acrested curassow. The eggs being newly laid were very palatable.Kallolo then ascended the tree again and laid a snare, hoping to catchthe hen-bird; which, he said, might become domesticated, if carefullytreated.

  As we were going through the forest shortly afterwards I heard arustling sound among the underwood, and saw, close ahead of me, adark-skinned creature about the size of a calf rush on towards thewater. Its head, of which I caught a glimpse, was peculiarly long, witha proboscis-like snout. I guessed from this that the animal was atapir. Calling to Kallolo, I told him what I had seen. He came up, andexamining the ground, gave it as his opinion that the creaturefrequently passed that way, and that he had little doubt we should beable to catch it.

  On returning to the settlement he invited Tim and Sambo to accompanyhim, and to dig a pit in which to catch the animal. We had a short timebefore manufactured some wooden spades, which served very well fordigging in soft ground: we each took one, and Kallolo having fixed on aspot over which he considered the tapir was accustomed to pass, we setto work to dig the pit. The tapir being unable to climb, we made ourpit only about four feet deep, seven long, and four wide. Havingshovelled away the earth as far as we could throw it, we covered the pitover with thin branches and light twigs, which would at once give wayunder the animal's weight.

  Next morning, as the rest of the party were busily employed, I aloneaccompanied Kallolo. We each carried a spade, with some rope and piecesof matting.

  We first visited the tree on which he had set the snare for thecurassow. As we approached we observed a fluttering on the top of it,and there, sure enough, was the bird caught by the legs. Kalloloclimbed up, and detaching the snare from the tree brought the birdsafely to the ground. It was too much frightened to attempt resistance,and before it recovered, the Indian had covered its head up with a pieceof matting, so that it could not see; and then taking it under his arm,we set off to examine our pit. Even before we got up to it, we saw thatthe covering had given way; and sure enough, there was the tapir safewithin. The creature could not turn round, and was standing perfectlystill, utterly unable to help itself. Kallolo had brought a bag, themouth secured by a string; this he managed to slip over its head, sothat it, like the curassow, was completely blindfolded. He then passedanother rope round its forelegs, and passing the end round the trunk ofa tree, hauled it tight. Putting the curassow on the ground, with itslegs tied, Kallolo begged me to assist him in throwing a quantity ofearth over the front of the pit. In a short time we had made anincline,
up which the tapir of its own accord climbed; expecting,probably, when at the top to find itself free. In this it wasdisappointed; but its strength being considerable, it would speedilyhave broken loose had not its eyes been blindfolded. Kallolo nowapproaching, spoke to it in soothing terms, patted it on the back, andat length it stood perfectly still, its alarm having apparently beencompletely calmed.

  "We will now return home with our prizes, and I hope that in a shorttime they will become tame," he observed; and having transferred therope from its legs to its neck, he led it along, while I followed withthe curassow. On our arrival with our two prizes we were warmly greetedby all hands, and Marian begged that she might be allowed to tame thebird.

  "I should like to make friends with the tapir," she added; "but I amafraid that it would prove an unruly pupil."

  "You need not be afraid of that," said Kallolo. "In a short time thetapir will become as tame as a dog, and will follow you about whereveryou go."

  Kallolo certainly exhibited a wonderful skill in taming animals. Hemanaged to do so entirely by kindness, though in the first instance hestarved them to make them ready to receive food from his hands. He didnot, however, allow the tapir to go loose for some days, but regularlybrought it the food he knew it liked best. He then took it down to thewater to bathe, keeping the rope tight that it might not swim off.

  Marian imitated his example with regard to her curassow; and the birdsoon knew her, and showed its pleasure when she approached with itsfavourite fruit. At length, feeling pretty sure that it would not flyaway, she let it loose just before its usual feeding time, and then heldout some fruit which she had got in readiness. The bird flew towardsher; and from that day followed her about wherever she went. "Crass,"(the name we gave to the curassow), soon became a great favourite, andmade Quacko and Ara very jealous. The monkey would, now and then, stealdown and slyly try to pluck the feathers out of Crass, which wouldimmediately run for protection to Marian; while Ara would fly down andperch on its head, and peck at its crest.

  We had now a little menagerie. Three parrots, of different species, andanother monkey, had been added to our collection. The tapir becameperfectly domesticated, and could be trusted to go out and have a batheby itself, when it would invariably come back and lie down in front ofour hut, knowing that it was there safe from its arch enemy the jaguar.We, however, could not bestow much time on our animals, as we wereemployed in the more important business of building our vessel andsupplying our larder. We were never, indeed, in want of food, but wehad to consider the means of preserving a supply for our voyage. Thedays passed quickly by; and though the carpenters appeared to work veryslowly, each day saw the vessel further advanced, and it was asatisfaction to count the numerous ribs which now rose from the keel ofour vessel.

  We were all at work one day on the vessel, with the exception of Tim andSambo, who had gone out to fish on the lake at a short distance from theshore, when cunning Master Quacko, observing us engaged, and catchingsight of Crass feeding at a little distance from the huts, slyly stoletowards her. Crass turned her head just in time to see him coming, andrecollecting that she had wings as well as legs, rose in the air andflew towards a neighbouring tree. Quacko, who had not forgotten the artof climbing, made chase, and soon got up to the bough on which Crass wasperched. Crass, who had been watching him, flew off to another treeclose to the shore of the lake. Quacko, however, liking the fun, threwhimself from bough to bough and drove Crass further and further off.Marian, who had been busy at her loom, looking up caught sight of Quackoand Crass flying away in the far distance. Guessing the cause of herfavourite's flight, she ran to call Quacko back, and to try to recoverher bird. As she was making her way through the thick underwood, Ifortunately happened to see her, and calling to Arthur, we both ran toher assistance. So thick was the forest, however, at this spot, that wesoon lost sight of her; and though we shouted to her to return, she madeno reply. Recollecting the fearful danger to which she had before beenexposed on the bank of the stream, I could not help fearing that someaccident had happened to her.

  We went on till we saw Crass on the bough of a tree just ahead of us,and I was sure that Marian could not be far off. Just then it occurredto me that she was perhaps only trying to frighten us; so, instead offollowing her further, I resolved to climb the tree and secure the bird.Calling to Arthur, we both easily mounted by means of several seposwhich hung down from it, and of three or four boughs which projectedfrom the lower part of the trunk. No sooner had Arthur and I got upthan we caught sight of Marian clinging to a palm-tree, horror depictedin her countenance as she gazed at something on the ground. At the samemoment Crass flew off towards her; while Arthur, exclaiming, "A snake! asnake! it is about to attack her," leaped down to her assistance. Itwas a moment of fearful suspense. I expected to see the horriblereptile spring at my sister. It appeared to me, as I caught sight ofits head, to be one of the most venomous species--the labarri.

  Just then I heard a voice shout out, "Stay quiet, Miss Marian, and keepyour eye fixed on the creature."

  I did not till then observe that the raft had come close in, and I nowsaw Sambo, who had leaped from it, making rapidly towards the shore witha long stick in his hand. The snake, whose tail had been coiled roundthe root of a tree, had all the time remained perfectly still, thoughuttering ominous hisses. In another instant the reptile would have madeits fatal spring; but Sambo, climbing up the bank, dealt it a furiousblow on the head. This made it uncoil its tail; then he followed up theattack by a second blow. The snake dropped its head.

  Marian, relieved of her terror, fell fainting to the ground just asArthur and I reached her, while Crass immediately came flying down toher feet. Having satisfied ourselves that the snake was really killed,we hastened back with Marian to the settlement, followed by Crass, whichcame willingly after its mistress. She was so nervous, however, thatshe could with difficulty walk. At every instant she started, as ifexpecting to see another snake appear before her to dispute her passage.Quacko, who knew very well that he had been misbehaving, made his wayback before us; and when we arrived we found him seated in front of thehut, looking as sedate as a judge, evidently fancying that his conducthad been unobserved.

  We again charged Marian not to leave the camp by herself, warning herthat she might not only meet with another snake, but might fall in,perhaps, with a prowling jaguar or puma, or an anaconda, such as hadattacked us on the lake.

  "But I could not bear the thought of losing my dear Crass; and I had noidea that I should have been led so far away," she answered, almostcrying, as if she had done something wrong.

  "We are not blaming you, my dear Marian," said Uncle Paul, "butcautioning you for your own benefit,--and ours, too, for we should bemiserable should any harm happen to you. People, when they begin to actimprudently, never can tell where they may stop; and a very good lessonmay be imparted to others from your adventure and the fearful danger towhich you have been exposed. But do not suppose, my dear, that we blameyou, though you did give us all a great fright. We must appoint aguard, not to watch you, but to protect you from danger."

  "Oh, do not draw anyone off from the important work in which you are allengaged, for my sake," exclaimed Marian. "I will be very prudent infuture, indeed, I will; and if any of my favourites run away, I willimmediately come to you, that, if you think fit, somebody may be sent tobring them back."

  Marian's resolution was sorely tried a few days afterwards. The Araparrot, the companion of our troubles, which had learned to speak, asTim averred, as well as a real Christian, and was so very affectionateand domesticated, took it into its head, from some unknown cause, to flyoff before Marian's eyes. According to her promise, she did not followit, though she believed that it had perched on a tree not far off, buthurried to where we were at work. When, however, Maco went to look forit, the bird was nowhere to be seen. The whole day passed by, andMarian began to give up all hopes of ever recovering her pet. The nextmorning our attention was attrac
ted by the most extraordinary noises,arising from a flock of parrots at a little distance. Now all washushed; then again there broke forth a torrent of screams, whichreminded us of the noise made by a flock of crows gathered around asolitary owl found out of its ivy-mantled tower after sunrise. What wasthe cause of the noise? No one could decide. Arthur suggested that thetree-tops thereabout might form a parliament-house to the surroundingnation of parrots, and that, their session having commenced, they hadmet to discuss some new legislative act for the good of the community,or, perhaps, some point calculated to lead to a general war,--theoverbearing conduct of the macaws, or the increasing insults of theparakeets.

  With bows and blowpipes in hand, Arthur, Tim, and I, and the threeIndians, crept silently towards them, when, to our great astonishment,we discovered the cause of the hubbub. Mounted full in view on atreetop stood Master Ara; while around him, upon adjacent branches, werecollected a host of his peers! There was a pause.

  "Haul away! ye ho, boys!" came down from the top of the tree, followedby bursts of imitative shrieks and vociferous applause. "Ha! ha! ha!"shouted Master Ara, as he rolled his head and doubled up his body quitebeside himself with laughter. Then came tumultuous applause andencores, and further shouts of "Ha! ha! ha! Haul away! ye ho, boys!"Then Ara spread his wings, and began with evident delight to bow anddance, and to turn round and round on the bough he had chosen for hisrostrum. The effect upon his auditory was remarkable. Every parrotbegan to twist and to turn about in the same fashion, endeavouring withvery considerable success to utter the same sounds, till we might havesupposed that the crew of a merchant ship were shouting together, andengaged in weighing anchor to put to sea. Presently one of the assemblycaught sight of us, and giving the alarm to the others, they suddenlychanged their hilarious notes to cries of alarm, when off they flew,leaving Ara to harangue to empty benches, or rather to vacant boughs;for he, not holding us in dread, did not deem it necessary to decamp.

  The question now was how to catch him. Kallolo's blowpipe could havebrought him down from his lofty perch; but it would have been at therisk of preparing him for parrot-pie, and our object was to take himalive. Had we possessed any salt, Kallolo said that there would havebeen no danger, as a few grains would have effectually neutralised theeffects of the poison.

  "Sure he would come if the mistress were to call him," observed Tim.

  Arthur, thinking so too, ran back and brought Marian; who, indeed, wasvery willing to come. On our retiring out of sight, she began to callto Ara, using the endearing expressions she had been accustomed to applyto him. He looked down and nodded, and then flew to a lower bough. Shewent on, and held out her hand with some palm-fruit, of which he wasespecially fond. Again he descended; and at length, attracted partly byher sweet voice, and partly, it may be suspected, by the sweet fruit,came and perched on her hand. Then she took him back in triumph to thesettlement, telling him, as she did so, how imprudent he had been to runaway so far.

  "Remember, Ara," I heard her say, with all the gravity possible,"people, when they begin to act imprudently, never can tell where theymay stop. You might have been caught by a tree-snake, or by some savagevulture, and we should never have seen you more. Promise me never to gowandering again without a proper escort;--you will, won't you?"

  "Haul away! ye ho, boys!" answered Ara. "Ha! ha! ha!"

  This was the only reply she could obtain. She, however, as the birdnestled affectionately in her arms, seemed perfectly satisfied that hewould not again go gadding.