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 Inever 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.
