Elsie's Winter Trip

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XIV.

  Their sail about the mouth of the Amazon was very interesting to themall, and that up the Para River to the city of the same name, notless so. They found the city evidently a busy and thriving place; itsharbor, formed by a curve of the River Para, here twenty miles wide,had at anchor in it a number of large vessels of various nationalities.The "Dolphin" anchored among them, and after a little her passengerswent ashore for a drive about the city.

  They found the streets paved and macadamized, the houses with whitewalls and red-tiled roofs. There were some large and imposingbuildings--a cathedral, churches and the President's palace were theprincipal ones. They visited the public square and beautiful botanicgarden.

  It was not very late in the day when they returned to their yacht, butthey--especially Dr. Harold's patients--were weary enough to enjoy thequiet rest to be found in their ocean home.

  "What a busy place it is," remarked Grandma Elsie, as they sat togetherupon the deck, gazing out upon the city and its harbor.

  "Yes," said the Captain, "Para is the mart through which passes thewhole commerce of the Amazon and its affluents."

  "And that must, of course, make it a place of importance," said Violet.

  "It was the seat of revolution in 1833," remarked her grandfather;"houses were destroyed, lives lost--a great many of them--and grassgrew in streets which before that had been the center of business."

  "Papa," exclaimed Ned, "there's a little boat coming, and a man in itwith some little animals."

  "Ah, yes; small monkeys, I think they are," Captain Raymond said,taking a view over the side of the vessel.

  Then he called to a sailor that he wanted the man allowed to comeaboard with whatever he had for sale. In a few moments he was at handcarrying two little monkeys in his arms. He approached the Captain andbowing low, hat in hand, addressed him in Portuguese, first saying,"Good-evening," then going on to tell that these were fine littlemonkeys--tee-tees--which he had brought for sale, and he went on totalk fluently in praise of the little creatures, which were about thesize of a squirrel, of a greyish-olive as to the hair of body andlimbs, a rich golden hue on the latter; on the under surface of thebody a whitish grey, and the tip of the tail black.

  "Oh, how pretty, how very pretty!" exclaimed little Elsie. "Papa, won'tyou buy me one?"

  "Yes, daughter, if you want it," returned the Captain, "for I know youwill be kind to it and that it will be a safe and pretty pet for you."

  "And Oh, papa, I'd like to have the other one, if I may!" cried Ned,fairly dancing with delight at the thought of owning the pretty littlecreature.

  The Captain smiled and said something to the man, speaking inPortuguese, a language spoken and understood by themselves only of allon board the vessel.

  The man answered, saying, as the Captain afterward told the others,that he was very glad to sell both to one person, because the littlefellows were brothers and would be company for each other.

  Then a tee-tee was handed to each of the children, the Captain gave theman some money, which seemed to please him, and he went away, whileElsie and Ned rejoiced over and exhibited their pets, fed them and gavethem a comfortable sleeping-place for the night.

  "What lovely, engaging little things they are!" said Grandma Elsie, asthe children carried them away, "the very prettiest monkeys I ever saw."

  "Yes," said the Captain, "they are of a very pretty and engaging genusof monkeys; we all noticed the beauty of their fur, from which theyare called callithrix or 'beautiful hair.' Sometimes they are calledsquirrel monkeys, partly on account of their shape and size, andpartly from their squirrel-like activity. They are light, gracefullittle creatures. I am hoping my children will have great pleasurewith theirs. They are said to attach themselves very strongly to theirpossessors, and behave with a gentle intelligence that lifts them farabove the greater part of the monkey race."

  "I think I have read that they are good-tempered," said Grandma Elsie.

  "Yes; they are said to be very amiable, anger seeming to be almostunknown to them. Did you not notice the almost infantile innocence inthe expression of their countenances?"

  "Yes, I did," she replied; "it was very touching, and made me feel anaffection for them at once."

  "I have read," said Evelyn, "that that is very strong when the littlecreatures are alarmed. That sudden tears will come into their clearhazel eyes, and that they will make a little imploring, shrinkinggesture quite irresistible to kind-hearted, sympathetic people."

  "I was reading about the tee-tees not long ago," said Mrs. Lilburn;"and one thing I learned was that they had a curious habit of watchingthe lips of those who speak to them, just as if they could understandthe words spoken, and that when they become quite familiar, they arefond of sitting on their friend's shoulder, and laying their tinyfingers on his lips; as if they thought in that way they might discoverthe mysteries of speech."

  "Poor little darlings! I wish they could talk," exclaimed Grace. "Idaresay they would make quite as good use of the power of speech asparrots do."

  "Possibly even better," said her father. "They seem to be moreaffectionate."

  "Do they live in flocks in their own forests, papa?" Grace asked.

  "Yes," he replied, "so the traveler, Mr. Bates, tells us, and that whenon the move they take flying leaps from tree to tree."

  "I am very glad you bought those, papa," she said. "I think they willbe a pleasure and amusement to us all."

  "So do I," said Lucilla, "they are so pretty and graceful that I thinkwe will all be inclined to pet them."

  "So I think," said her father, "they seem to me decidedly the prettiestand most interesting species of monkey I have ever met with."

  "And it is really pleasant to see how delighted the children are withtheir new pets," said Grandma Elsie.

  "Yes," the Captain responded, with a pleased smile, "and I have no fearthat they will ill-use them."

  "I am sure they will be kind to them," said Violet. "They were muchinterested in the monkeys we saw in going about the city. I saw quite anumber of various species--some pretty large, but most of them small;some at the doors or windows of houses, some in canoes on the river."

  "Yes, I think we all noticed them," said her mother.

  "Yes," said the Captain, "I saw several of the _midas ursulus_, a smallmonkey which I have read is often to be found here in Para. It is, whenfull grown, only about nine inches long, exclusive of the tail, whichis fifteen inches. It has thick black fur with a reddish brown streakdown the middle of the back. It is said to be a timid little thing, butwhen treated kindly becomes very tame and familiar."

  "What do monkeys eat, papa?" asked Grace.

  "I have been told the little fellows are generally fed on sweet fruits,such as the banana, and that they are also fond of grasshoppers andsoft-bodied spiders."

  "They have some very large and busy ants in this country, haven't they,father?" asked Evelyn.

  "Yes," replied the Captain. "Bates tells of some an inch and a quarterlong and stout in proportion, marching in single file through thethickets. They, however, have nothing peculiar or attractive in theirhabits, though they are giants among ants. But he speaks of another andfar more interesting species. It is a great scourge to the Brazilians,from its habit of despoiling the most valuable of their cultivatedtrees of their foliage. In some districts it is such a pest thatagriculture is almost impossible. He goes on to say that in their firstwalks they were puzzled to account for mounds of earth of a differentcolor from the surrounding soil; mounds, some of them very extensive,some forty yards in circumference, but not more than two feet high. Buton making inquiries they learned that those mounds were the work of thesaubas--the outworks and domes which overlie and protect the entrancesto their vast subterranean galleries. On close examination, Bates foundthe earth of which they were made to consist of very minute granulesheaped together with cement so as to form many rows of little ridgesand turrets. And he learned that the difference in color from the eartharound was bec
ause of the undersoil having been brought up from aconsiderable depth to form these mounds."

  "I should like to see the ants at work upon them," said Grace.

  "It is very rarely that one has the opportunity to do so," said herfather. "Mr. Bates tells us that the entrances are generally closedgalleries, opened only now and then when some particular work is goingon. He says he succeeded in removing portions of the dome in smallerhillocks, and found that the minor entrances converged, at the depth ofabout two feet, to one broad, elaborately-worked gallery or mine, whichwas four or five inches in diameter."

  "Isn't it the ant that clips and carries away leaves?" asked Evelyn.

  "Yes, Bates speaks of that; says it has long been recorded in books onnatural history, and that when employed on that work their processionlooks like a multitude of animated leaves on the march. In some placeshe found an accumulation of such leaves, all circular pieces about thesize of sixpence, lying on the pathway, no ants near it, and at somedistance from the colony. 'Such heaps,' he says, 'are always found tohave been removed when the place is revisited the next day. The antsmount the trees in multitudes. Each one is a working miner, placesitself on the surface of a leaf, and cuts with its sharp, scissors-likejaws, and by a sharp jerk detaches the leaf piece. Sometimes they letthe leaf drop to the ground, where a little heap accumulates untilcarried away by another relay of workers; but generally each marchesoff with the piece he has detached. All take the same road to theircolony and the path they follow becomes, in a short time, smooth andbare, looking like the impression of a cart-wheel through the herbage.'"

  "I am sorry the children have missed all this interesting information,"said Violet.

  "Never mind, my dear," said her husband, "it can be repeated to themto-morrow. I think there is a storm gathering, and that we are likelyto have to stay at home here for a day or two."

  "Should it prove a storm of any violence we may be thankful that we arein this good, safe harbor," remarked Mr. Dinsmore.

  "And that we have abundance of good company and good reading matter,"added Grandma Elsie.

  "Yes," responded her father, "those are truly additional causes forthankfulness."

  "The little monkeys are another," laughed Lucilla. "I think we willhave some fun with them; and certainly the children are delighted withtheir new pets."

  "They certainly are engaging little creatures--very differentfrom those we are accustomed to see going about our streets withorgan-grinders," said Grandma Dinsmore.

  The children were on deck unusually early the next morning, their petswith them. They found their father, mother, Eva and Lucilla there. Theusual affectionate morning greetings were exchanged; then, smiling downupon Elsie and her pet, the Captain said, "I think you have not yettired of your new pet, daughter?"

  "No, indeed, papa," was the quick, earnest rejoinder, "I'm growingfonder of him every hour. Oh, he's just the dearest little fellow!"

  "And so is mine," added Ned. "I think I'll name him Tee-tee; and asElsie's is a little smaller than this, she is going to call him Tiny."

  "If papa approves," added Elsie.

  "I am well satisfied," returned their father. "You have begun your dayrather earlier than usual," Captain Raymond went on, addressing the twochildren, "and I am well pleased that it is so, because now you cantake some exercise about the deck, which may be prevented later by astorm," and he glanced up at the sky, where black clouds were gathering.

  "Yes, papa, we will," they answered, and set off at once upon a raceround the deck, carrying their pets with them.

  The storm had begun when the summons to breakfast came, but the facesthat gathered about the table were cheerful and bright, the talk also.All agreed that it would be no hardship to have to remain on board forsome days with plenty of books and periodicals to read, the pleasantcompany which they were to each other, and the abundance of fruits andother dainties which the Captain always provided.

  When they were done eating, they repaired to the saloon, held theirusual morning service, then sat about singly or in groups, talking,reading, writing, or, if a lady, busied with some fancy work.

  The children were much taken up with their new pets, fondling them andletting them climb about their shoulders.

  Cousin Ronald watched them with interest and pleasure. Elsie wasstanding near, her Tiny on her shoulder, gazing into her eyes witha look that seemed to say, "You are so kind to me that I love youalready." Elsie stroked and patted him, saying, "You dear little pet! Ilove you already, and mean to take the very best care of you."

  "Thanks, dear little mistress. I am glad to belong to you and mean tobe always the best little tee-tee that ever was seen." The words seemedto come from the tee-tee's lips, and its pretty eyes were looking rightinto Elsie's own.

  "Why, you little dear!" she said, with a pleased little laugh, strokingand patting him, then glancing round at Cousin Ronald, "How well youtalk. In English, too, though I don't believe you ever heard thelanguage before you came aboard the 'Dolphin.'"

  "No, we didn't, though we can speak it now as well as any other," Ned'spet seemed to say, lifting its head from his shoulder and glancingaround at its brother.

  That brought a merry laugh from its little master. "Speak it as much asyou please, Tee-tee," he said, fondling his pet, "or talk Portugueseor any other language you're acquainted with."

  "I'm afraid they will never be able to talk unless Cousin Ronaldis in the company," said Elsie; "or Brother Max," she added, as anafter-thought.

  "Yes, Brother Max could make them talk just as well," said Ned. "Oh,here come the letters and papers!" as a sailor came in carrying themailbag.

  Its contents gave employment to every one for a time, but, after alittle, Violet, having finished the perusal of her share, called thechildren to her and gave them an interesting account of the talk of thenight before about the strange doings of South American ants. They weremuch interested, and asked a good many questions. When that subject wasexhausted, Elsie asked to be told something about Rio de Janeiro.

  "There is a maritime province of that name in the south-east part ofBrazil," her mother said. "I have read that in the southern partof it the scenery is very beautiful. The middle of the province ismountainous. About the city I will read you from the "New InternationalEncyclopedia," which your father keeps on board whenever we are usingthe yacht."

  She took down the book, opened and read: "'Rio de Janeiro, generallycalled Rio, the capital of the Brazilian empire, and the largest andmost important commercial emporium of South America, stands on amagnificent harbor, seventy-five miles west of Cape Frio. The harboror bay of Rio de Janeiro, said, and apparently with justice, to be themost beautiful, secure, and spacious bay in the world, is land-locked,being entered from the south by a passage about a mile in width. Itextends inland seventeen miles, and has an extreme breadth of abouttwelve miles. Of its numerous islands, the largest, Governor's Island,is six miles long. The entrance of the bay, guarded on either sideby granite mountains, is deep, and is so safe that the harbor ismade without the aid of pilots. On the left of the entrance risesthe peak called, from its peculiar shape, Sugarloaf Mountain; andall round the bay the blue waters are girdled with mountains andlofty hills of every variety of picturesque and fantastic outline.The harbor is protected by a number of fortresses. The city standson the west shore of the bay, about four miles from its mouth. Sevengreen and mound-like hills diversify its site; and the white-walledand vermillion-roofed houses cluster in the intervening valleys, andclimb the eminences in long lines. From the central portion of thecity, lines of houses extend four miles in three principal directions.The old town, nearest the bay, is laid out in squares; the streetscross at right angles, are narrow, and are paved and flagged; andthe houses, often built of granite, are commonly two stories high.West of it is the elegantly-built new town; and the two districts areseparated by the Campo de Santa Anna, an immense square or park, ondifferent parts of which stand an extensive garrison, the town-hall,the national museum, the palace of the
senate, the foreign office, alarge opera house, etc. From a number of springs which rise on andaround Mount Corcovado (three thousand feet high, and situated threeand a half miles southwest of the city) water is conveyed to Rio deJaneiro by a splendid aqueduct, and supplies the fountains with whichthe numerous squares are furnished. Great municipal improvementshave, within recent years, been introduced; most of the streets arenow as well paved as those of the finest European capitals; the cityis abundantly lighted with gas; and commodious wharfs and quays arebuilt along the water edge. Rio de Janeiro contains several excellenthospitals and infirmaries, asylums for foundlings and female orphans,and other charitable institutions, some richly endowed; about fiftychapels and churches, generally costly and imposing structures, withrich internal decorations, and several convents and nunneries. In theCollege of Pedro II., founded in 1837, the various branches of aliberal education are efficiently taught by a staff of eight or nineprofessors; the Imperial Academy of Medicine, with a full corps ofprofessors, is attended by upward of three hundred students; there isalso a theological seminary. The national library contains one hundredthousand volumes.'

  "There, my dears, I think that is all that will interest you,"concluded Violet, closing the book.