On the Banks of the Amazon

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER NINE.

  LOST IN THE FOREST.

  "I am thankful to have you back, my young masters," exclaimed Domingos,as he helped us to land. "But what! have you not brought back thecanoe? I thought it was her you had returned in, and that the thirdperson I saw was Senor John. He set off some time back to look foryou."

  We briefly explained what had happened, and introduced the young Indian.Having secured the raft, we hastened to our encampment. Ellen andMaria came out to meet us.

  "I am so glad you have come back," said Ellen, "for we were growing veryanxious about you. I hope John will soon return. I am surprised youdid not see him as you came down the igarape."

  I explained to her how easily we might have passed each other. "I daresay we shall see John in a few minutes. When he found night coming on,he would certainly turn back," I added.

  We now brought Duppo forward and introduced him, telling Ellen about hissister Oria.

  "Oh, I should so like to see her!" she exclaimed. "Do try and make himunderstand that we hope he will bring her here."

  Though modest and retiring in his manner, Duppo soon made himself athome, and seemed well pleased at being in our society. Ellen wasdelighted with the curious bird he had brought her, and Maria undertookto tame it, as she had the parrot and Nimble. John had fortunatelykilled a paca in the morning, and Maria had dressed part of it forsupper. We were, however, unwilling to begin our meal till his return.We waited for some time, expecting him every instant to appear. We madethe fire blaze brightly as a signal, and Domingos and I went to a littledistance from the camp, first in one direction, then in another,shouting at the top of our voices; but we in vain listened for his inreturn. I then fired off my rifle, hoping that, had he lost his way,that might show him the position of the camp. We stood breathless,waiting to hear his rifle, but no sound reached our ears. We now becamevery anxious, but were unwilling to go further from the camp, lest wemight be unable to find our way back. True, who had followed us, addedhis voice to our shouts.

  "Hark!" said Domingos; "I hear a sound."

  We listened. It was a low, deep howl. It grew louder and louder.

  "That is only one of those big monkeys beginning its night music," Iobserved.

  True, when he heard it, was darting forward, but I called him back,afraid lest he should meet with a prowling jaguar or huge boa, whichmight carry him off before we could go to his assistance. At length,with sad forebodings, we returned to the camp. We did our best tocomfort Ellen, yet it was very difficult to account for John'snon-appearance.

  "He must certainly have gone further than he intended," observed Arthur;"then, not having the sun to guide him, must have taken a wrongdirection. He will probably climb up into some tree to sleep, and whenthe sun rises in the morning he will easily find his way back."

  "Oh, thank you, Arthur, for suggesting that!" said Ellen; "I am sure itmust be so."

  "At all events," I said, "we will start away at daybreak to look forhim; and with our young Indian friend as a guide, we need have no fearin venturing into the forest."

  We had none of us much appetite for supper, but Domingos persuaded us totake some. We then made up a fire, intending to keep watch during thenight, hoping every moment that John might return. Domingos, however,at length persuaded Arthur and I to lie down in our hammocks; indeed, inspite of our anxiety, in consequence of the fatigue we had gone throughduring the day, we could with difficulty keep our eyes open. He madeDuppo get into his, saying that he himself would keep watch. Every nowand then I awoke, hoping to hear John's cheery voice. Each time Ilooked out I saw our faithful Domingos sitting before the fire, busyinghimself in throwing sticks on it to keep it blazing brightly.Occasionally I observed him get up, go to a little distance, and stretchout his neck into the darkness. Then he would come back again and takehis seat as before, while the various tones of croaking frogs, or hugecrickets, or the fearful howls of the night-monkeys, which came, nowfrom one direction, now from another, from the far-off depths of theforest, sounded as if they were keeping up a conversation amongthemselves. This dismal noise continued throughout the night.

  At daylight Arthur and I leaped from our hammocks, and roused up youngDuppo. We tried to explain to him that one of our number had gone away,and that we wanted to go in search of him.

  "Stay!" exclaimed Domingos; "you must not go without breakfast. I havebeen boiling the cocoa, and I will soon roast some paca."

  While we were breakfasting, Ellen and Maria came out of their hut.Ellen looked very pale and anxious, as if she had passed a sleeplessnight; and she confessed that she had not closed her eyes for thinkingof John, and what might have become of him. We were doubtful abouttaking True; but when he saw us preparing to start, he ran off, andwould not return, for fear of being tied up: we decided, therefore, tolet him go with us, thinking that he might be of assistance in findingJohn.

  Having done my best to comfort Ellen, we set out in the directionDomingos told us John had gone. We had stored our wallets with food,that we might not run the risk of starving should we be kept out longerthan we expected. Duppo had followed our example, having brought hisbag of farinha on shore. He carried his bow and blow-pipe; and Arthurwas armed with his bow, as well as with a long pointed staff; and I hadmy rifle and a good store of ammunition. Our Indian guide seemed tounderstand clearly our object, and led the way without hesitationthrough the forest. After we had gone some little distance, we saw himexamining the trees on either side. Then he again went on as before.He made signs to us that the person we were searching for had gone thatway. After a time he again stopped, and showed us how he had beenturning about, now in one direction, now in another. Then on he wentagain, further and further from the camp. As we were making our wayonwards, Duppo stopped, and signed to us to be silent; and then pointedto a tree a little way in front. We there saw on a bough a short-tailedanimal, with white hair. After waiting a minute or two, it turnedround, and a face of the most vivid scarlet hue was presented to us. Itseemed unconscious of our presence for it did not move from its post.The head was nearly bald, or at most had but a short crop of thin greyhair; while round the odd-looking face was a fringe of bushy whiskers ofa sandy colour, which met under the chin. A pair of reddish eyes addedto its curious appearance. The body was entirely covered with long,straight, shining white hair.

  Presently it moved along the branch, and began picking some fruit whichgrew at the further end. Duppo cautiously lifted his blow-pipe to hismouth. An arrow sped forth and struck the creature. The instant itfelt itself wounded, it ran along the branch till it reached anothertree. Duppo made chase, and we had no little difficulty in followinghim. On the creature went from tree to tree, and it seemed that therewas but a slight chance of his catching it. Presently we saw it again,but moving slower than at first. Slower and slower it went, till Duppocould easily keep close under it; then down it fell, almost into hisarms. True, who was ahead of us, darted forward, and, had I not calledhim back, would have seized the creature. The Indian, meantime, wasengaged in pulling out the arrow; and having done so, he put a pinch ofsalt into the creature's mouth.

  On examining it, we found it was a veritable monkey, one of the mostcurious of the race I ever saw. It was of the genera of _Cebidae_.Duppo called it a _nakari_ (_Brachyurus calvus_ is its scientific name).The body was about eighteen inches long, exclusive of the limbs. Itstail was very short, and apparently of no use to it in climbing; and itslimbs were rather shorter and thicker than those of most monkeys. In ashort time it began to show signs of life.

  We soon afterwards caught sight of another, with a young one on itsback, which our guide told us was a mother monkey. It, however, gotaway before he could bring his blow-pipe to bear on it. As soon as thelittle captive began to move, Duppo secured its front hands with a pieceof line, and threw a small net over its head to prevent it biting. Hethen secured it on his shoulder; and we again pushed on through theforest as fast as we could go. We were at
length obliged to stop andrest. We had taken but a slight breakfast. Arthur said he was hungry;and Duppo showed that he was by taking out a cake of farinha and somedried meat from his bag. Anxiety, however, had taken away my appetite.

  While I was sitting down, I observed close to us what I took to be aseed-pod of some aerial plant, hanging straight down from a bough, atabout six feet from the ground. On going up to it, I found to mysurprise that it was a cocoon about the size of a sparrow's egg, wovenby a caterpillar in broad meshes of a rose-coloured silky substance. Ithung, suspended from the tip of an outstanding leaf, by a strong silkenthread about six inches in length. On examining it carefully, I foundthat the glossy threads which surrounded it were thick and strong. Bothabove and below there was an orifice, which I concluded was to enablethe moth, when changed from the chrysalis which slept tranquilly withinits airy cage, to make its escape. It was so strong that it couldresist evidently the peck of a bird's beak, while it would immediatelyswing away from one on being touched. I afterwards met with severalsuch cocoons; and once saw a moth coming forth from one. It was of adull, slatey colour, and belonged to the silkworm family of_Bombycidae_.

  Arthur persuaded me at last to take a little food; and having restedsufficiently, we again moved on. At length Duppo came to a stand-still,and signed to me to keep back True. I could hardly hold him, however,he seemed so anxious to push forward. Duppo had slung his blow-pipe athis back, and held his bow with an arrow to shoot. Then I saw himexamining the ground on every side under the boughs, many of which hungclose down to it. Presently the report of a gun reached our ears.

  "That is certainly your brother John!" exclaimed Arthur.

  The shot came from some distance, however. Then another, and another,followed at intervals of a few minutes. We now hurried on more eagerlythan ever, in spite of Duppo's signs to us to be cautious. I feltconvinced that John alone could have fired those shots. Again anothershot sounded close to us; and on emerging from the thicker part of theforest, we saw at a little distance the ground covered with a herd ofhog-like animals--though smaller than ordinary hogs--which I guessed atonce were peccaries. They were in a great state of commotion--runningabout in all directions, turning their long snouts up into the air.Going a few yards further on, there was John himself, seated high up onthe bough of a tree, to which numerous sipos hung. His gun was pointeddown towards the herd of peccaries, several of which lay dead on theground. Some of the others kept running about, but the greater portionwere standing looking up at him. There he sat, with his usualcomposure, regularly besieged by them. The attention of the savagecreatures was so occupied with him that they did not perceive ourapproach.

  I was somewhat surprised at the eager signs which Duppo made to us toclimb up a tree by means of some sipos which hung close at hand. Wewere hesitating to follow his advice, when he seized Arthur by the armand dragged him up. I thought it prudent to follow his example, as Ihad formed a good opinion of his sense. I lifted up True to Arthur, whocaught him in his arms; and then I swung myself up to the branch afterhim. We had just taken our seats facing John, when the peccariesdiscovered us; and a number of them turning round, charged across theground on which we had stood. Duppo had got his bow ready, and shot oneas they passed. He killed another as, turning round, they charged backagain, and then ran about looking up at us, as they had been watchingJohn.

  "I am very glad to see you safe!" I shouted out to John; for hithertowe had not had time to speak to him. "But why should we be afraid ofthese little creatures? They have more reason to be afraid of us, fromthe number you have killed, I should think."

  "Just look into their mouths, and you will soon see that they are not soharmless as you suppose," he answered. "I have had a narrow escape oflosing my life; for one of them caught me in the leg as I was climbingthis tree, and had I let go my hold, the whole herd would have been uponme, and I should have been cut to pieces in a few seconds. Those tusksof theirs are as pointed as needles and as sharp as razors. I am veryglad you found me out, too; for I left my wallet hanging on a branch,just before I had to run for my life from these fellows. But how didyou get back?"

  I briefly told him of our adventures.

  "You must have been anxious about me at the camp," he observed. "Butthe honest truth is, I lost my way, and at this moment scarcely knowwhere I have got to. I had, however, few fears about myself; but havebeen very sorry for poor dear Ellen, while I could not tell whether youwere safe or not. However, we must drive away these savage littlebrutes."

  Saying this, he knocked over another. I followed his example. Arthurand Duppo were meantime shooting their arrows at the herd. Undaunted,however, the animals stood collected below us. It was evident that theywere influenced rather by dull obstinacy or ignorance of their dangerthan by courage. At length their obtuse senses showed them that theywere getting the worst of it. The survivors began to turn their fiercelittle eyes towards their dead companions, and it seemed to strike themthat something was the matter.

  "Shout!" cried out John--"shout! and perhaps we may frighten them away."

  We raised our voices, Duppo joining in with his shrill pipe. Thepeccaries looked at each other; and then one moved to a little distance,then another, and at last the whole herd set off scampering away throughthe forest. We sent reiterated shouts after them, fearing that theymight otherwise stop, and perhaps come back again; but they at lastdiscovered that discretion is the better part of valour, and thetrampling of their feet became less and less distinct, till it was lostin the distance.

  We now descended from our perches. I handed down True into Arthur'sarms. True had been very dissatisfied with his position, and, torevenge himself, at once flew at one of the hogs which was struggling ata little distance, and quickly put it out of its pain. We shook handswith John; and, congratulating him on his escape, introduced Duppo tohim, and told him how we had become acquainted.

  "Here," he said, "look at these creatures, and you will see that I hadgood reason to be afraid of them."

  On examining their long and apparently harmless snouts, we found thatthey were armed with short tusks, scarcely seen beyond the lips; butbeing acutely pointed and double-edged, and as sharp as lancets, theyare capable of inflicting the most terrible wounds. Peccaries are themost formidable enemies, when met with in numbers, to be found in theforests of the Amazon. The creatures were not more than three feetlong, and a whole one was but an easy load to carry. The bodies wereshort and compact, and thickly covered with strong, dark-colouredbristles. Round the neck was a whitish band, while the under part ofthe body was nearly naked. Instead of a tail, there was merely a fleshyprotuberance.

  "What a horrible odour!" exclaimed Arthur, as we were examining one ofthem.

  We found that it proceeded from a glandular orifice at the lower part ofthe back. Duppo immediately took this out with his knife, and thenbegan scientifically to cut up the animal. Following his example, weprepared others to carry with us, and thus each made up a load of aboutthirty pounds.

  The learned name of the animal is _Dicotyles tajacu_. It eats anythingthat comes in its way,--fruits, roots, reptiles, or eggs; and it is ofgreat service in killing snakes. It will attack the rattlesnake withoutfear, and easily kills it. The meat appeared perfectly destitute offat, but we hoped to find it none the worse on that account.

  John, as may be supposed, was very hungry, and thankful for some of thefood we brought with us. After he had breakfasted we commenced ourreturn to the camp, loaded with the peccary meat. Duppo carried aportion in addition to the scarlet-faced monkey. The little creaturesat on his shoulder, looking far from at ease in its novel position.

  "Oh, we will tame you before long, and make you perfectly contented andhappy," said Arthur, going behind Duppo and addressing the monkey."What will you like to be called, old fellow? You must have a name, youknow. I have thought of one just suited to your red nose--Toby; TobyFill-pot, eh!--only we will call you Toby. I say, Harry, don't youthin
k that will be a capital name?"

  I agreed that Toby was a very suitable name, and so we settled, withEllen's approval, that Toby should be the name of our scarlet-facedfriend.

  John walked on in silence for some time. "I am very much ashamed oflosing my way," he said at length when I joined him. "Setting offthrough the forest to meet you, I went on and on, expecting everyinstant to see you. I fancied that I was close to the igarape, butsomehow or other had wandered from it. The gloom increasing, I hadstill greater difficulty in finding my way. At last I determined to goback to the camp, but instead of doing so I must have wandered furtherand further from it. It then grew so dark that I was afraid ofproceeding, and so looked out for a tree where I could rest for thenight. I saw one with wide-spreading branches at no great distance fromthe ground. Having cut a number of sipos, I climbed into my intendedresting-place, dragging them after me. I there fastened them to thesurrounding branches, making a tolerably secure nest for myself, Icannot say that I was very comfortable, for I could not help thinkingthat a prowling jaguar might find me out, or a boa or some other snakemight climb up, and pay me a visit. I shouted several times, hopingthat you might hear me, but the only answers I got were cries fromhowling monkeys, who seemed to be mocking me. The whole night long thecreatures kept up their hideous howls. The moment one grew tiredanother began. So far they were of service, that they assisted to keepme awake. I can tell you I heartily wished for the return of day. Assoon as it dawned I descended from my roosting-place, intending to makemy way back as fast as possible. However, as the sun had not appeared,I had nothing to guide me. I tried to find the water, but must havegone directly away from it. I was walking on, when I saw the snout ofan animal projecting from the hollow trunk of a large tree. Taking itfor a pig of some sort, I fired, when it ran out and dropped dead, itsplace being immediately supplied by another. I killed that in the sameway, when out came a third, and looked about it; and presently Idiscovered several other heads poked out from the surrounding trees. Iwas on the point of cutting some pork steaks out of the first I hadkilled, when I caught sight of the sharp little tusks projecting fromits mouth. Suddenly the accounts I had heard of the dangerous characterof peccaries flashed across my mind, and at the same instant I saw anumber of the animals coming out of their holes. Prudence urged me tobeat a quick retreat. I was making my way through the forest, and hadalready got to some distance from where I had first seen the creatures,when a large herd, which had apparently collected from all quarters,came scampering after me. I at once began to clamber up into a tree,where you found me. On they came at a great rate; and, as I told you, Inarrowly escaped being caught by one of the savage little brutes. Imust have spent a couple of hours or more besieged by them before youcame up."

  As we neared the camp we uttered as cheerful a shout as we could raiseto give notice of our approach, and Domingos soon appeared, followed byEllen and Maria. Ellen ran forward, and throwing her arms round John'sneck, burst into tears. It showed us how anxious she had been on hisaccount, although she had done her best, as she always did, to restrainher own feelings and keep up our spirits.

  We were all of us glad, after our exertions, to get into our hammocksand rest. We found on waking that Domingos and Maria had exertedthemselves to prepare a plentiful repast. While eating it we discussedour future plans.

  "We must either recover our canoe or build another, that is certain,"said John, "before we can continue our voyage. However, if we could besure that this is a secure and healthy place for you to remain in, Ishould like to arrange with some of these Indians to make an excursionalong the shores in search of our parents. Perhaps they are all thistime encamped or at some village, on this or the opposite bank, not faroff. It would, I think, be unwise to go further down without staying toascertain this. What is your opinion, Harry?"

  I agreed with him, but said that I would rather run the risk of theadventure, and let him remain at the camp. "Or perhaps Arthur mightlike to come with me," I added. "Two people might succeed better thanone; and we could even manage a canoe by ourselves independently of thenatives."

  "Oh yes," said Arthur, "do let me go with Harry. We can take Duppo toassist us. He seems so intelligent that we should easily make himunderstand what we want."

  "Then I propose that early to-morrow morning we set off to the villageto search further for our canoe, or to purchase one, as John suggests,"I said. "I am afraid we shall not be able to get up there on our raft,and we shall therefore have to make a journey round by land. WithDuppo, however, as a guide, we shall have less difficulty than before inmaking our way to it."

  It was finally settled that John, Arthur, and I should set off early thefollowing morning to the village, guided by Duppo, while Domingosremained at the camp to take care of Ellen and Maria.