The Forest Exiles: The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER THREE.

  THE POISON-TREES.

  Following the rugged and winding path, the travellers had climbed to aheight of many thousand feet above the ocean level. There was verylittle vegetation around them. Nothing that deserved the name of tree,if we except a few stunted specimens of quenoa trees (_Polylepisracemosa_), and here and there patches of the Ratanhia shrub(_Krameria_), which covered the hill-sides. Both these are used by themountain Indians as fuel, but the Ratanhia is also a favourite remedyagainst dysentery and blood-spitting. Its extract is even exported toEuropean countries, and is to be found in the shop of the apothecary.

  Now and then a beautiful species of locust was seen with its bright redflowers. It was the "Sangre de Christo" of the Peruvian _flora_.

  Don Pablo Romero was a naturalist, and I may here tell you a pleasantand interesting fact--which is, that many of the earliest patriots andrevolutionists of Spanish America were men who had distinguishedthemselves in natural science--in fact, were the "savans" of thesecountries. I call this a pleasant fact, and you may deem it a curiousone too, because men of science are usually lovers of peace, and notaccustomed to meddle either in war or politics. But the truth of thematter is this,--under the government of the viceroys all books, exceptthose of a monkish religion, were jealously excluded from thesecountries. No political work whatever was permitted to be introduced;and the people were kept in the grossest ignorance of their naturalrights. It was only into learned institutions that a glimmering of thelight of freedom found its way, and it was amongst the professors ofthese institutions that the "rights of men" first began to be discussed.Many of these noble patriots were the first victims offered up on thealtar of Spanish-American independence.

  Don Pablo, I have said, was a naturalist; and it was perhaps the firstjourney he had ever made without observing attentively the naturalobjects that presented themselves along his route. But his mind wasbusy with other cares; and he heeded neither the _fauna_ nor _flora_.He thought only of his loved wife and dear children, of the dangers towhich he and they were exposed. He thought only of increasing thedistance between them and his vengeful enemies. During that day theyhad made a toilsome journey of fifteen miles, up the mountain--a longjourney for the llamas, who rarely travel more than ten or twelve; butthe dumb brutes seemed to exert themselves as if they knew that dangerthreatened those who guided them. They belonged to Guapo, who had notbeen a mere servant, but a cultivator, and had held a small "chacra," orfarm, under Don Pablo. Guapo's voice was well known to the creatures,and his "hist!" of encouragement urged them on. But fifteen miles wasan unusual journey, and the animals began to show symptoms of fatigue.Their humming noise, which bears some resemblance to the tones of anEolian harp, boomed loud at intervals as the creatures came to a stop;and then the voice of Guapo could be heard urging them forward.

  The road led up a defile, which was nothing more than the bed of amountain-torrent, now dry. For a long distance there was no spot oflevel ground where our travellers could have encamped, even had theydesired to stop. At length, however, the path led out of thetorrent-bed, and they found themselves on a small ledge, or table,covered with low trees. These trees were of a peculiar kind, verycommon in all parts of the Andes, and known as _molle_ trees. They aremore properly bushes than trees, being only about ten or twelve feet inheight. They have long delicate pinnate leaves, very like those of theacacia, and, when in fruit, they are thickly covered with clusters ofsmall bright red berries. These berries are used among some tribes ofIndians for making a highly valuable and medicinal beer; but the wood ofthe tree is of more importance to the people of those parts as anarticle of fuel, because the tree grows where other wood is scarce. Itis even considered by the sugar-refiners as the best for their purpose,since its ashes, possessing highly alkaline properties, are moreefficient than any other in purifying the boiling juice of thesugar-cane. The leaves of this beautiful tree, when pressed, emit astrong aromatic smell; and a very curious property ascribed to it by themore ignorant people of the mountains will be illustrated by thedialogue which follows:--

  "Let us pass the night here," said Don Pablo, halting, and addressinghimself to Guapo. "This level spot will serve us to encamp. We cansleep under the shade of the bushes."

  "What! _mi amo_! (my master) Here?" replied the Indian, with a gestureof surprise.

  "And why not here? Can any place be better? If we again enter thedefile we may find no other level spot. See! the llamas will go nofarther. We must remain therefore."

  "But, master," continued Guapo--"see!"

  "See what?"

  "The trees, master!"

  "Well, what of the trees? Their shade will serve to screen us from thenight dew. We can sleep under them."

  "Impossible, master--_they are poison trees_!"

  "You are talking foolishly, Guapo. These are _molle_ trees."

  "I know it, senor; but they are poison. If we sleep under them we shallnot awake in the morning--we shall awake no more."

  And Guapo, as he uttered these words, looked horrified.

  "This is nonsense; you are superstitious, old man. We must abide here.See, the llamas have lain down. They will not move hence, I warrant."

  Guapo turned to the llamas, and thinking that their movements mightinfluence the decision of his master, began to urge them in hisaccustomed way. But it is a peculiarity of these creatures not to stirone step beyond what they consider a proper journey. Even when the loadis above that which they are accustomed to carry--that is to say, 120pounds--neither voice nor whip will move them. They may be goaded todeath, but will not yield, and coaxing has a like effect. Both knewthat they had done their day's work; and the voice, the gesticulationsand blows of Guapo, were all in vain. Neither would obey him anylonger. The Indian saw this, and reluctantly consented to remain; atthe same time he continued to repeat his belief that they would all mostcertainly perish in the night. For himself, he expressed his intentionto climb a ledge, and sleep upon the naked rocks; and he earnestlyentreated the others to follow his example.

  Don Pablo listened to the admonitions of his retainer with incredulity,though not with any degree of disdain. He knew the devotedness of theold Indian, and therefore treated, what he considered a moresuperstition, with a show of respect. But he felt an inclination tocure Guapo of the folly of such a belief; and was, on this account, themore inclined to put his original design into execution. To pass thenight under the shade of the molle trees was, therefore, determinedupon.

  All dismounted. The llamas were unloaded; their packs, or _yerguas_,taken off; the horse and mule were unsaddled; and all were permitted tobrowse over the little space which the ledge afforded. They were alltrained animals. There was no fear of any of them straying.

  The next thing was to prepare supper. All were hungry, as none of theparty had eaten since morning. In the hurry of flight, they had made noprovision for an extended journey. A few pieces of _charqui_ (jerked ordried beef) had been brought along; and, in passing near a field of"oca," Guapo had gathered a bunch of the roots, and placed them on theback of his llama. This oca is a tuberous root (_Oxalis tuberosa_), ofan oval shape and pale red colour, but white inside. It resembles verymuch the Jerusalem artichoke, but it is longer and slimmer. Its tasteis very agreeable and sweetish--somewhat like that of pumpkins, and itis equally good when roasted or boiled. There is another sort oftuberous root (_Tropaeolum tuberosum_), called "ulluca" by thePeruvians, which is more glutinous and less pleasant to the taste. Thiskind is various in form, being either round, oblong, straight, orcurved, and of a reddish, yellow colour outside, though green within.It is insipid when boiled with water, but excellent when dressed withSpanish peppers (_Capsicum_). Out of the _oca_, then, and _charqui_,the supper must be made; and for the purpose of cooking it, a fire mustbe kindled with the wood of the molle.

  For a long time there was a doubt about whether it would be safe tokindle this fire. The sun had not yet gone down, and the smo
ke mightattract observation from the valley below. If the pursuers were ontheir track, it might be noticed; as upon this lonely route a fire wouldindicate nothing else than the camp of some one on a journey. But thestomachs of our travellers cried for food, and it was at length resolvedto light the fire, but not until after sunset, when the smoke could beno longer seen, and the blaze would be hidden behind the thick bushes ofmolle.

  Don Pablo walked off from the camp, and wandered among the trees to seeif he could find something that might contribute a little variety totheir simple supper. A small, broom-like plant, that grew among themolle trees, soon attracted his attention. This was the _quinoa_ plant(_Chenopodium quinoa_), which produces a seed, not unlike rice, thoughsmaller in the grain, whence it has received in commerce the name "pettyrice." The quinoa seeds, when boiled, are both pleasant and nutritious,but especially so when boiled in milk. Previous to the discovery ofAmerica, "quinoa" was an article of food, supplying the place of wheat.It was much used by the natives, and is still collected for food in manyparts. Indeed, it has been introduced into some European countries, andcultivated with success. The leaves, when young, can be used asspinach, but the seeds are the most sought after for food.

  Don Pablo having called Leon to assist him, a quantity of the seeds weresoon collected into a vessel, and carried to the place which they hadchosen for their camp; and, as it was now dark enough, the fire waskindled and the cooking-pot got ready. The Dona Isidora, although afine lady, was one of those who had all her life been accustomed to lookafter her household affairs: and this, it may be remarked, is a somewhatrare virtue among the Peruvian ladies, who are generally too much givento dress and idleness. It was not so, however, with the wife of DonPablo. She knew how to look after the affairs of the _cuisine_, andcould dress any of the peculiar dishes of the country with the best ofcooks. In a short while, therefore, an excellent supper was ready, ofwhich all ate heartily, and then, wrapping themselves up in theirponchos, lay down to sleep.