the naturalist on the river amazons-第83部分

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ther　end　of　the　lake　lay　a　deep　watercourse；　which　we　traced　for　about　half　a　mile；　and　found　to　communicate　with　another　and　smaller　pool。　This　second　one　evidently　swarmed　with　turtles；　as　we　saw　the　snouts　of　many　peering　above　the　surface　of　the　water：　the　same　had　not　been　seen　in　the　larger　lake；　probably　because　we　had　made　too　much　noise　in　hailing　our　discovery　on　approaching　its　banks。　My　friends　made　an　arrangement　on　the　spot　for　returning　to　this　pool；　after　the　termination　of　the　egg　harvest　on　Catua。

In　recrossing　the　space　between　the　two　pools；　we　heard　the　crash　of　monkeys　in　the　crowns　of　trees　overhead。　The　chase　of　these　occupied　us　a　considerable　time。　Jose　fired　at　length　at　one　of　the　laggards　of　the　troop；　and　wounded　him。　He　climbed　pretty　nimbly　towards　a　denser　part　of　the　tree；　and　a　second　and　third　discharge　failed　to　bring　him　down。　The　poor　maimed　creature　then　trailed　his　limbs　to　one　of　the　topmost　branches；　where　we　descried　him　soon　after；　seated　and　picking　the　entrails　from　a　wound　in　his　abdomen　a　most　heart…rending　sight。　The　height　from　the　ground　to　the　bough　on　which　he　was　perched　could　not　have　been　less　than　150　feet；　and　we　could　get　a　glimpse　of　him　only　by　standing　directly　underneath；　and　straining　our　eyes　upwards。　We　killed　him　at　last　by　loading　our　best　gun　with　a　careful　charge；　and　resting　the　barrel　against　the　treetrunk　to　steady　the　aim。　A　few　shots　entered　his　chin；　and　he　then　fell　heels　over　head　screaming　to　the　ground。　Although　it　was　I　who　gave　the　final　shot；　this　animal　did　not　fall　to　my　lot　in　dividing　the　spoils　at　the　end　of　the　day。　I　regret　now　not　having　preserved　the　skin；　as　it　belonged　to　a　very　large　species　of　Cebus；　and　one　which　I　never　met　with　afterwards。

It　was　about　one　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　when　we　again　reached　the　spot　where　we　had　first　struck　the　banks　of　the　larger　pool。　We　hitherto　had　but　poor　sport；　so　after　dining　on　the　remains　of　our　fried　fish　and　farinha；　and　smoking　our　cigarettes；　the　apparatus　for　making　which；　including　bamboo　tinder…box　and　steel　and　flint　for　striking　a　light；　being　carried　by　every　one　always　on　these　expeditions；　we　made　off　in　another　（westerly）　direction　through　the　forest　to　try　to　find　better　hunting…ground。　We　quenched　our　thirst　with　water　from　the　pool；　which　I　was　rather　surprised　to　find　quite　pure。　These　pools　are；　of　course；　sometimes　fouled　for　a　time　by　the　movements　of　alligators　and　other　tenants　in　the　fine　mud　which　settles　at　the　bottom；　but　I　never　observed　a　scum　of　confervae　or　traces　of　oil　revealing　animal　decomposition　on　the　surface　of　these　waters；　nor　was　there　ever　any　foul　smell　perceptible。　The　whole　of　this　level　land；　instead　of　being　covered　with　unwholesome　swamps　emitting　malaria；　forms　in　the　dry　season　（and　in　the　wet　also）　a　most　healthy　country。　How　elaborate　must　be　the　natural　processes　of　self…purification　in　these　teeming　waters！

On　our　fresh　route　we　were　obliged　to　cut　our　way　through　a　long　belt　of　bamboo　underwood；　and　not　being　so　careful　of　my　steps　as　my　companions；　I　trod　repeatedly　on　the　flinty　thorns　which　had　fallen　from　the　bushes；　finishing　by　becoming　completely　lame；　one　thorn　having　entered　deeply　the　sole　of　my　foot。　I　was　obliged　to　be　left　behind　Lino；　the　Indian；　remaining　with　me。　The　careful　fellow　cleaned　my　wounds　with　his　saliva；　placed　pieces　of　isca　（the　felt…like　substance　manufactured　by　ants）　on　them　to　staunch　the　blood；　and　bound　my　feet　with　tough　bast　to　serve　as　shoes；　which　he　cut　from　the　bark　of　a　Monguba　tree。　He　went　about　his　work　in　a　very　gentle　way　and　with　much　skill；　but　was　so　sparing　of　speech　that　I　could　scarcely　get　answers　to　the　questions　I　put　to　him。　When　he　had　done　I　was　able　to　limp　about　pretty　nimbly。　An　Indian　when　he　performs　a　service　of　this　kind　never　thinks　of　a　reward。　I　did　not　find　so　much　disinterestedness　in　negro　slaves　or　half…castes。　We　had　to　wait　two　hours　for　the　return　of　our　companions；　during　part　of　this　time　I　was　left　quite　alone；　Lino　having　started　off　into　the　jungle　after　a　peccary　（a　kind　of　wild　hog）　which　had　come　near　to　where　we　sat；　but　on　seeing　us　had　given　a　grunt　and　bounded　off　into　the　thickets。　At　length　our　friends　hove　in　sight；　loaded　with　game；　having　shot　twelve　curassows　and　two　cujubims　（Penelope　Pipile）；　a　handsome　black　fowl　with　a　white　head；　which　is　arboreal　in　its　habits　like　the　rest　of　this　group　of　Gallinaceous　birds　inhabiting　the　South　American　forests。　They　had　discovered　a　third　pool　containing　plenty　of　turtles。　Lino　rejoined　us　at　the　same　time；　having　missed　the　peccary；　but　in　compensation　shot　a　Quandu；　or　porcupine。　The　mulatto　boy　had　caught　alive　in　the　pool　a　most　charming　little　water…fowl；　a　species　of　grebe。　It　was　somewhat　smaller　than　a　pigeon；　and　had　a　pointed　beak；　its　feet　were　furnished　with　many　intricate　folds　or　frills　of　skin　instead　of　webs；　and　resembled　very　much　those　of　the　gecko　lizards。　The　bird　was　kept　as　a　pet　in　Jabuti's　house　at　Ega　for　a　long　time　afterwards；　where　it　became　accustomed　to　swim　about　in　a　common　hand…basin　full　of　water；　and　was　a　great　favourite　with　everybody。

We　now　retraced　our　steps　towards　the　water…side；　a　weary　walk　of　five　or　six　miles；　reaching　our　canoe　by　half…past　five　o'clock；　or　a　little　before　sunset。　It　was　considered　by　everyone　at　Catua　that　we　had　had　an　unusually　good　day's　sport。　I　never　knew　any　small　party　to　take　so　much　game　in　one　day　in　these　forests；　over　which　animals　are　everywhere　so　widely　and　sparingly　scattered。　My　companions　were　greatly　elated；　and　on　approaching　the　encampment　at　Catua；　made　a　great　commotion　with　their　paddles　to　announce　their　successful　return；　singing　in　their　loudest　key　one　of　the　wild　choruses　of　the　Amazonian　boatmen。

The　excavation　of　eggs　and　preparation　of　the　oil　being　finished；　we　left　Catua　on　the　3rd　of　November。　Carepira；　who　was　now　attached　to　Cardozo's　party；　had　discovered　another　lake　rich　in　turtles；　about　twelve　miles　distant；　in　one　of　his　fishing　rambles；　and　my　friend　resolved；　before　returning　to　Ega；　to　go　there　with　his　nets　and　drag　it　as　we　had　formerly　done　the　Aningal。　Several　Mameluco　families　of　Ega　begged　to　accompany　us　to　share　the　labours　and　booty；　the　Shumana　family　also　joined　the　party；　we　therefore；　formed　a　large　body；　numbering　in　all　eight　canoes　and　fifty　persons。

The　summer　season　was　now　breaking　up；　the　river　was　rising；　the　sky　was　almost　constantly　clouded；　and　we　had　frequent　rains。　The　mosquitoes　also；　which　we　had　not　felt　while　encamped　on　the　sand…banks；　now　became　troublesome。　We　paddled　up　the　north…　westerly　channel；　and　arrived　at　a　point　near　the　upper　end　of　Catua　at　ten　o'clock　p。m。　There　was　here　a　very　broad　beach　of　untrodden　white　sand；　which　extended　quite　into　the　forest；　where　it　formed　rounded　hills　and　hollows　like　sand　dunes；　covered　with　a　peculiar　vegetation：　harsh；　reedy　grasses；　and　low　trees　matted　together　with　lianas；　and　varied　with　dwarf　spiny　palms　of　the　genus　Bactris。　We　encamped　for　the　night　on　the　sands；　finding　the　place　luckily　free　from　mosquitoes。　The　different　portions　of　the　party　made　arched　coverings　with　the　toldos　or　maranta…leaf　awnings　of　their　canoes　to　sleep　under；　fixing　the　edges　in　the　sand。　No　one；　however；　seemed　inclined　to　go　to　sleep；　so　after　supper　we　all　sat　or　lay　around　the　large　fires　and　amused　ourselves。　We　had　the　fiddler　with　us；　and　in　the　intervals　between　the　wretched　tunes　which　he　played；　the　usual　amusement　of　story…telling　beguiled　the　time：　tales　of　hair…breadth　escapes　from　jaguar；　alligator；　and　so　forth。　There　were　amongst　us　a　father　and　son　who　had　been　the　actors；　the　previous　year；　in　an　alligator　adventure　on　the　edge　of　the　praia　we　had　just　left。　The　son；　while　bathing；　was　seized　by　the　thigh　and　carried　under　water　a　cry　was　raised；　and　the　father；　rushing　down　the　bank；　plunged　after　the　rapacious　beast；　which　was　diving　away　with　his　victim。　It　seems　almost　incredible　that　a　man　could　overtake　and　master　the　large　cayman　in　his　own　element；　but　such　was　the　case　in　this　instance；　for　the　animal　was　reached　and　forced　to　release　his　booty　by　the　man's　thrusting　his　thumb　into　his　eye。　The　lad　showed　us　the　marks　of　the　alligator's　teeth　on　his　thigh。　We　sat　up　until　past　midnight　listening　to　these　stories　and　assisting　the　flow　of　talk　by　frequent　potations　of　burnt　rum。　A　large；　shallow　dish　was　filled　with　the　liquor　and　fired；　when　it　had　burned　for　a　few　minutes；　the　flame　was　extinguished　and　each　one　helped　himself　by　dipping　a　tea…cup　into　the　vessel。

One　by　one　the　people　dropped　asleep；　and　then　the　quiet　murmur　of　talk　of　the　few　who　remained　awake　was　interrupted　by　the　roar　of　jaguars　in　the　jungle　about　a　furlong　distant。　There　was　not　one　only；　but　several　of　the　animals。　The　older　men　showed　considerable　alarm　and　proceeded　to　light　fresh　fires　around　the　outside　of　our　encampment。　I　had　read　in　books　of　travel　of　tigers　coming　to　warm　themselves　by　the　fires　of　a　bivouac；　and　thought　my　strong　wish　to　witness　the　same　sight　would　have　been　gratified　tonight。　I　had　not；　however；such　good　fortune；　although　I　was　the　last　to　go　to　sleep；　and　my　bed　was　the　bare　sand　under　a　little　arched　covering　open　at　both　ends。　The　jaguars；　nevertheless；　must　have　come　very　near　during　the　night；　for　their　fresh　footmarks　were　numerous　within　a　score　yards　of　the　place　where　we　slept。　In　the　morning　I　had　a　ramble　along　the　borders　of　the　jungle；　and　found　the　tracks　very　numerous　and　close　together　on　the　sandy　soil。

We　remained　in　this　neighbourhood　four　days；　and　succeeded　in　obtaining　many　hundred　turtles；　but　we　were　obliged　to　sleep　two　nights　within　the　Carapanatuba　channel。　The　first　night　passed　rather　pleasantly；　for　the　weather　was　fine；　and　we　encamped　in　the　forest；　making　large　fires　and　slinging　our　hammocks　between　the　trees。　The　second　was　one　of　the　most　miserable　nights　I　ever　spent。　The　air　was　close；　and　a　drizzling　rain　began　to　fall　about　midnight；　lasting　until　morning。　We　tried　at　first　to　brave　it　out　under　the　trees。　Several　very　large　fires　were　made；　lighting　up　with　ruddy　gleams　the　magnificent　foliage　in　the　black　shades　around　our　encampment。　The　heat　and