Lost in the Wilds of Brazil
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“They’re Portuguese,” observed Professor Bigelow, as the fishermen came nearer.
The men muttered several words of thanks to the Empire’s crew, but it was clear that few understood them. Professor Bigelow, however, picked up the meaning at once and translated to his companions. Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis had a slight knowledge of that language, but could not keep up with the excited men.
“The captain says it’s too bad they had to lose the schooner,” Professor Bigelow said. “He said they did their best to save it from going down, but had to give up. They did not intend to be this far at sea, but the storm gave them no chance of turning back.”
In a short time the excitement was over, and most of the passengers again retired, for the next morning they were to sight the West Indies.
Bob was overjoyed at the success he had had in taking the movies of the rescue and knew they would be a hit with the Neuman Film Corporation. They were the first of any importance that had been taken on the ship, and, as Joe said, a little action now and then does a lot to liven up a thing.
The next morning the storm had completely subsided, and true to schedule the Empire sighted Porto Rico. There was a scramble of passengers who had reached their destination.
“Probably think they’ll be carried on,” smiled Bob, as a rather nervous man fled down the stairs.
At first the shoreline was so dim as to be hardly distinguishable from the low clouds, but it gradually grew more plain. At last trees and houses could be made out, and then the skyline of San Juan loomed up in the distance.
“Looks like a city,” remarked Joe.
“It is,” his father replied. “Has over eighty-five thousand inhabitants.”
“Will we have time to go ashore?” asked Bob.
“Yes. The ship remains in port for about three hours,” Mr. Holton answered.
As the Empire approached the city, she backed her engines and moved slowly into port, where a small crowd of people were massed to give greeting.
Several other boats, large and small, were anchored at the busy docks, and the Empire steamed in between two freighters, one of which was being loaded with sugar.
“Sugar is one of the principal exports,” explained Professor Bigelow, as the exploration party prepared to leave the ship on a tour of the city.
As soon as they were in port, the gangplank was lowered. The adventurers made their way down, among a score of other passengers, many of whom were to leave the ship here.
Bob and Joe were at once impressed by the native residents, for there was a great variety of races. Spaniards were the most numerous, but there were also Negroes, mulattoes, French, Americans, and a small sprinkling of Indians.
“Quite a variety,” commented Joe. “Though it is possible to see this very thing in parts of New York.”
The explorers found that it would be comparatively easy to walk to various places of interest, and, after passing the former governor-general’s palace, they resolved to take in as much of the city as they could in two hours.
They found that the city was built on Morro Island, although the mainland could be easily reached by the numerous bridges. The streets were regularly laid out, and in the white quarters the residences were rather attractive.
“Doesn’t look much like America, though,” said Joe.
The exploration party reached the Empire with thirty minutes to spare, and they took chairs on deck to watch the busy dock below.
All too soon the whistle of leaving blew, and visitors scrambled down the gangplank. Then, with one long blast the ship slowly steamed out to sea, leaving Porto Rico behind.
At last they were on the final stretch. There would be no more stops till they reached South America. Then only short stays at Paramaribo and Cayenne, which were important seaport cities about two hundred miles apart.
“How long will it be until we again see land?” asked Bob, as he and the others sat on deck.
“Two days,” replied his father. “No doubt that they’ll seem like a long time, too.”
And they did. Bob and Joe were no more vexed than the others, however, for the men were also anxious to get started into the unknown. But when at last they did sight South America they forgot the past and looked into the future.
The boys, with their cameras in hand, were the first to reach the prow. They were closely followed by their fathers and the professor, who also crowded in for a first view.
At first, land was only a speck far out on the horizon. Then only gradually did it take on form and color.
“We’re nearing Paramaribo,” pronounced Mr. Holton, as he made out the outline of the city.
“What country is it in?” asked Joe.
“Dutch Guiana,” the professor answered. “One of the smallest nations in South America.”
The Empire steamed into a port nearly as busy as that of San Juan, although most of the boats were small.
For a second time the gangplank was lowered, and as the explorers had a half-hour to spare, they started on a short walking trip of the city.
“Quite a bit different from San Juan,” said Bob, as he noted that many of the people were native Indians.
The others nodded. None of them had been here before, and they naturally took a great interest in these unusual surroundings. In fact Professor Bigelow was the only one who had ever seen South America before, but this did not lessen his enthusiasm.
The streets were, for the most part, narrow and straight, cutting one another at right angles. The party was surprised to find the houses extremely low, hardly any of them exceeding two stories. Some were built of brick, but most were of cane plastered with mud.
Several minutes were spent in rambling over the various quarters of the city. Then they went back to the ship, which was now nearly ready to sail.
“South America is all right to visit,” remarked Joe, “but I don’t think I’d care to live here.”
The others agreed with him.
“And yet,” said Professor Bigelow, “there are a number of cities that are very well developed. Take Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, for instance. They are large, clean, and well kept. A street in Buenos Aires looks very much like a street in the United States.”
Soon the Empire was off, having unloaded a large cargo of American goods. Several passengers also took their leave here.
From then on the scientific party was restless and eager to get started into the unknown. As one nears his goal, he nearly always finds it hard to wait through the last few stretches. Bob and Joe especially were excited, for it was their first adventure. Their hearts throbbed as they eagerly anticipated the coming days.
That evening they arrived in Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, and, as before, took a short trip about the city. It was much the same as Paramaribo, however, and they were glad to board the Empire again for the last leg of the long journey.
It was about six hundred miles to Macapá, the Empire’s destination, and the party settled back in anticipation.
Neither of the boys did anything of importance. They were too enthusiastic over the coming great adventure.
“Let’s take it easy on deck,” suggested Bob, and they arranged chairs for all of the party that cared to rest.
“There’s nothing like enjoying the spell of the ocean,” remarked Mr. Holton.
A few days later Captain Crowell announced that they were sailing up the mighty Amazon, and the explorers were thrilled to the bone. The Amazon! At last one of their strongest ambitions had been fulfilled. Bob and Joe were overjoyous, for they had had a strong desire to see this great water system.
“Doesn’t look like a river to me,” said Joe as he tried in vain to see the shore.
“Over a hundred miles wide at the delta,” said Bob. “It’s the greatest river system in the world.”
For several hours they steamed on up the great river, past small settlements, plantations, and green islands. Occasionally they would get a glimpse of beautiful wild vegetation, and their hearts would beat fast. Then, almost without knowing it, they came to Macapá.
There was a fairly good port, and the vessel took her place between two small river steamers. The long ocean voyage had come to an end.
CHAPTER X
In the Heart of the Jungle
“NOW what?” asked Joe, as the party passed on down the gangplank.
“Better get our belongings together first,” said Mr. Lewis. “Then we can make inquiries about the leaving of a boat that’ll take us to our destination.”
“But what about finding a place to stay overnight?” asked the professor.
“You needn’t worry about that.”
All looked around, to see that Captain Crowell had moved up behind them.
“I heard what you said,” he remarked. “And let me say that you are welcome to your berths on the Empire until we leave for New York. That may be tomorrow, or it may be the next day. Go on up and make yourselves at home.”
The party accepted the invitation with warm thanks. Then they moved on up to the boat.
“Pretty soft,” smiled Bob, as they sat on deck. “We might have hunted for hours before finding rooms.”
It was late that night when the party retired, but all slept well and awoke the next morning ready for any plans that might be made.
After breakfast Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton left for the dock, where they would make inquiries about the leaving of a boat for farther upstream. Bob and Joe followed a road out of town to see the country.
They hiked for perhaps two miles, looking sharply about. Then, as there was not much new to see, they turned and went back to town, desirous of finding out what information, if any, their fathers had gained about the leaving of a boat.
By luck the boys met their fathers in the main street, and there were smiles on the men’s faces.
“Pat us on the back,” smiled Mr. Holton, so overjoyed that he could hardly keep his composure.
“What!” cried Bob. “You’ve found a boat so soon?”
The naturalists nodded.
“By chance we met the captain of a small freight vessel that happens to be going up the Purús to Acre, on the Bolivian frontier,” said Mr. Holton. “Sheer luck, I calls it. Any other time it would have been necessary to wait three or four weeks before finding such an opportunity. Of course we wouldn’t have waited that long, though. We would have found it necessary to take two boats, one to Manáos, and one on up the Purús. But the way things are now – ” he smiled broadly – “we’re all set for a pleasant voyage, with no stops till we reach our destination.”
“When does the boat leave?” inquired Joe.
“In less than three hours,” his father answered. “That means we’ll have to hurry and get packed.”
They walked on down the dock to the Empire and found Professor Bigelow in the library. He looked up smilingly and placed his book back on the shelf.
“What did you find?” he asked.
Mr. Holton told of obtaining passage on the boat to the Purús, and the anthropologist was delighted beyond words. The delay was maddening to him, even though he was able to keep his time occupied.
It did not take the party long to get their possessions together, and after locating Captain Crowell and thanking him for the use of the berths, they left for the newly chartered boat, which was anchored farther down the pier.
“Small but staunch-looking,” commented Bob, as they came to it.
“Built on rather speedy lines, too,” added Mr. Lewis.
They lugged their baggage up on deck, to be met by the burly captain, who in his rough attire was a strange contrast to Captain Crowell. He was good-natured, however, and readily showed the explorers to their sleeping quarters.
“Hope you have a jolly voyage,” he boomed, leaving for the cabin.
“I told you boys wrong when I said we don’t stop till we get to our destination,” Mr. Holton corrected himself, as the party started out to the rail. “The boat stops at Manáos, but only for a couple of hours. We’ll have time to go about the city.”
A little later the boat’s whistle sounded, and then came the faint chugging of the engines.
“We’re off!” cried Joe excitedly. “Off on the last stretch of our journey.”
Soon the waterfront of Macapá was left behind, and the Selvas, for that was the vessel’s name, steamed out to the middle of the mighty Amazon.
The explorers did not move from deck until one of the crew announced that the noon meal was ready.
“Wonder what we’ll have to eat?” asked Joe, as they went into the dining room.
“Probably salt pork and a few other dishes of cured food,” returned Mr. Lewis, and he was right.
“It’s all right for a change, anyway,” said Bob.
The boys spent the remainder of that day in exploring the boat and were impressed by everything they saw. Aside from the fact that it was rather old, it was worthy of the great river on which it steamed.
“Let’s hear something about Manáos,” Bob said to his father that night. “If we are to see it soon, I’d like to know what to expect.”
“It’s a wonderful city,” Mr. Holton replied. “Large stores, office buildings, hotels. If what I’ve heard is correct, we will be astonished.”
And they were astonished. In fact, when they pulled into the busy port, the boys’ eyes almost popped from their heads. Even after hearing about Manáos from their fathers, they could not believe that they would find anything like this away out in the heart of the vast wilderness.
“Has a rather impressive skyline,” observed Joe, gazing ahead at the outlines of the hotels and office buildings.
“Many of the structures are new,” put in Professor Bigelow. “The city’s growth has been rather rapid. But now,” he went on, “suppose we get off the boat and take a short trip about town.”
The adventurers easily procured a map of the city. Then they boarded a street car for a ride down the principal business street.
“Modern is right,” commented Bob, gazing out at the large buildings, hotels, theaters, and stores.
They passed many points of interest, including the Theatre of Manáos, the many parks and gardens, schools and colleges, and monuments and statues. And to cap all this, they spent several minutes in one of the most complete museums they had ever been in.
“Truly a great city in the heart of the forest,” said Mr. Holton, as they prepared to board the boat for the continuation of the journey.
They got to the Selvas with barely five minutes to spare. Already the crew were making ready for the long voyage that was to follow.
Shortly later they were again in the midst of the forest, after having left Manáos behind.
“I see we’re not the only passengers on the boat,” said Professor Bigelow, glancing across at two men who sat near the stern.
“Probably they’re rubber gatherers who have a plantation farther down,” was the opinion voiced by Mr. Lewis, and his guess was right, as they later found out when an acquaintance sprang up between the Brazilians and the Americans.
That acquaintance was delightful and tended to relieve the monotony of the trip. The men, Acmio and Piemo by name, took a liking to the explorers and told of many strange sights of the jungle. They knew nothing, however, of the region the expedition was going to penetrate.
“I bet we won’t find anything, either,” said Joe. “No one seems to have been far in the interior.”
At last the Selvas came to the Purús River, and down this it steamed.
“Considerably narrower than the Amazon,” observed Bob. “But at that it’s a good many rods across.”
“The Purús is noted for its crooked course,” remarked Professor Bigelow. “The sand bars occur with such regularity that the natives reckon distances by counting the number of them.”
At this time of year the water was rather high, for the rainy season was barely over.
They steamed on for the greater part of that day before coming to a settlement, and this was small and crude. They did not stop, although several men came out to greet them.
As they steamed farther, the river became more crooked. In fact it was often impossible to see more than three hundred feet ahead. And as they penetrated deeper into the jungle, vegetation became more dense. Great clusters of bright-colored flowers lined the banks, tall trees showed themselves above the other growth, parasitic vines wound themselves around forest giants. Ferns, high grass, small bushes, oddly shaped stalks – all these caught the eyes of the explorers.
After a long journey they reached the mouth of the Tapauá, and at a small town between the two rivers the boat stopped. Here the adventurers got off.
It seemed strange to set foot on ground out here away from civilization. Why, it was almost like another world! For some time Bob and Joe could not realize that they were now in the very heart of the great Amazon jungle.
The captain of the Selvas had given the party a letter of recommendation to a Brazilian who would be able to fit them out with boats and Indian crew. He lived at the edge of the town, and to that place they went, led by Mr. Holton.
They found the man sitting idly in his thatched house. He was very tall and slender, but looked to be possessed of great strength.
“You are Senhor del Pereo?” asked Mr. Holton in the native tongue.
“Sí,” the man replied.
Bob’s father took out the letter and handed it to him.
He read carefully for several moments. Then his face lighted.
Sure he would help them. Anyone who was a friend of the captain was a friend of his. It would be easy to get a boat – or boats, for that matter – and he knew of several trustworthy Indians who would readily act as guides. But he knew nothing about the distant country. Few people did. It was a land of mystery.
Mr. Holton translated to Bob and Joe. Then he again turned to the Brazilian.
“You will lead us to the boats and guides now?”
“Yes.”
They started out, the Brazilian in the van.
He led them around the village to a large native hut, in front of which sat several semi-naked Indians. They were on their feet in an instant when they caught sight of Senhor del Pereo, and with friendly greetings listened to what he had to say.
For several minutes he conversed with them in their native tongue, and in the end they nodded in acceptance.
“They will go,” he said to the explorers. “They will be your guides in an unknown country.”
CHAPTER XI
On the Alert
“NOW the next thing is to get boats,” said Mr. Holton.
Senhor del Pereo announced that it would be possible to get them at once, without having to have them constructed, and the explorers were delighted.
He led them down to the river bank, where two large canoes were aground. Each was about thirty-five feet long and capable of carrying a ton and a half of cargo with ease. Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis were amazed.
“They are not native canoes,” Mr. Lewis said, as he noted the deep, full lines and high freeboard.
The Brazilian explained that they had been used by a party of British hunters on the Purús River, and were purchased when the men were through with them for a small sum.
“Got it all over Indian boats,” remarked Bob, glancing farther down at several that were moored.
The Indians had accompanied them to the boats, and now Senhor del Pereo introduced the ones who were to be a part of the expedition. There were six of them – three to attend to each boat. All were large, strong fellows, capable of any kind of work required by the venture, and the Brazilian assured the explorers that they could be relied upon.
After attending to a few more matters with Senhor del Pereo, the party set about loading their provisions and supplies in one of the boats; the other was to be used as a storeplace for the specimens they would collect.
Bob and Joe did a good share of the work. Then occasionally they would take motion pictures.
When the last box was lifted up, Mr. Holton gave the sign, and, with parting words with the Brazilian who had done so much for them, they got in the foremost canoe and were paddled upstream by the crew. At last they were off for the unknown.
“Now for the fun,” smiled Joe, as he cranked the movie camera and looked expectantly into the green depths of the bordering jungle.
“I suppose you’re referring to hunting,” said Mr. Lewis. “Well, we’ll do plenty of that a little later. But first we want to penetrate a large distance from any outposts of civilization.”
At the start, the river was rather wide, but it promised to narrow later.
They glided swiftly on for perhaps three hours. Then Mr. Lewis suggested that they stop for the noon meal. Meanwhile, the crew could be resting.
The boats were brought to a stop at a large sand bank, and all climbed out to stretch their legs after such a long journey in more or less one position. Bob and Joe felt like running and shouting.
“Like to go in for a swim,” said Bob, wiping the perspiration from his streaming brow.
“So would everyone else,” returned Mr. Lewis. “But with the alligators and piranhas and other dangerous aquatic forms it’s absurd even to think of such a thing.”
“Are they this close to the Purús?” asked Joe. “I thought they were found deeper in the jungle.”
Mr. Holton shook his head.
“Piranhas and alligators are very common all through this region,” he said.
Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis got out a ration of food, while Bob and Joe attended to minor tasks. Professor Bigelow looked after the plates and utensils.
In a short time the meal was prepared, and all ate in quiet contentment. The food tasted good after those three long hours of constant traveling.
Bob and Joe glanced at the frowning jungle, which was but a short distance away. It seemed to challenge the explorers to penetrate its leafy depths, although in many places this was almost impossible.
“Quite a variety of trees,” observed Bob, his eye scanning the edge. “I suppose there are hundreds of different kinds.”
“There are,” answered Professor Bigelow. “All different kinds, from mahogany to bacaba palms. Much of the wood is worthlessly soft and useless, but mahogany and a few others are shipped to all parts of the world. There would be a much greater amount sent out, though, if it were all buoyant. The fact that many of the logs are not prevents them from being floated downstream.”
The explorers spent several minutes in the shade of a large tree, talking and chatting merrily. Then the professor suggested that they move on, and the others were more than glad to do so.
“You’re right,” Mr. Lewis told the professor. “We want to cover as much ground as possible today.”
The provisions were packed in the boat. They then boarded, to be paddled upstream by the Indians.
There was plenty of room to move about, and the youths shifted their positions frequently. Not because they grew tired of the scenery, however, for at every yard there was something new to see. Bright-colored flowers lined the banks, red-leafed bushes were common, tall palms, grotesque vines, ferns, plants of all kinds that baffled the boys. Occasionally they would pass dead branches covered with living orchids. Then again there were trees that themselves had flowers. Once they came to a tree over fifty feet high with wide, spreading branches that were covered with yellow blossoms.
Often the river would bend sharply, making necessary utmost caution by the crew. On one such occasion the explorers were engaged in conversation when suddenly a loud splash from ahead made them look up. Then, as they rounded the bend, they saw something that made them jump to their feet and grasp their rifles.
CHAPTER XII
A Fearful Sight
ON the bank not far away were at least fifteen large alligators, their hideous jaws partly open as they basked in the hot sun. Frequently one would plunge into the water to cool itself, and then there would be a terrific splashing about.
As soon as possible, the Indians stopped the boats, and the explorers viewed the creatures with a terrible awe. Here was their first encounter with the wild life of Brazil. Here, not far away, were some of the most terrible reptiles of South America.
For some time the alligators did not seem to notice the human invaders. Then they one by one crawled off the bank and sank a few inches beneath the water.