AT DAYBREAK on the morrow, the 27th of June, the cables were cast off, and the raft continued its journey down the river.
An extra passenger was on board. Whence came this Torres? No one exactly knew. Where was he going to? “To Manaos,” he said. Torres was careful to let no suspicion of his past life escape him, nor of the profession that he had followed till within the last two months, and no one would have thought that the jangada had given refuge to an old captain of the woods. Joam Garral did not wish to mar1 the service he was rendering2 by questions of too pressing a nature.
In taking him on board the fazender had obeyed a sentiment of humanity. In the midst of these vast Amazonian deserts, more especially at the time when the steamers had not begun to furrow3 the waters, it was very difficult to find means of safe and rapid transit4. Boats did not ply5 regularly, and in most cases the traveler was obliged to walk across the forests. This is what Torres had done, and what he would continue to have done, and it was for him unexpected good luck to have got a passage on the raft.
From the moment that Benito had explained under what conditions he had met Torres the introduction was complete, and he was able to consider himself as a passenger on an Atlantic steamer, who is free to take part in the general life if he cares, or free to keep himself a little apart if of an unsociable disposition6.
It was noticed, at least during the first few days, that Torres did not try to become intimate with the Garral family. He maintained a good deal of reserve, answering if addressed, but never provoking a reply.
If he appeared more open with any one, it was with Fragoso. Did he not owe to this gay companion the idea of taking passage on board the raft? Many times he asked him about the position of the Garrals at Iquitos, the sentiments of the daughter for Manoel Valdez, and always discreetly7. Generally, when he was not walking alone in the bow of the jangada, he kept to his cabin.
He breakfasted and dined with Joam Garral and his family, but he took little part in their conversation, and retired8 when the repast was finished.
During the morning the raft passed by the picturesque9 group of islands situated10 in the vast estuary11 of the Javary. This important affluent12 of the Amazon comes from the southwest, and from source to mouth has not a single island, nor a single rapid, to check its course. The mouth is about three thousand feet in width, and the river comes in some miles above the site formerly13 occupied by the town of the same name, whose possession was disputed for so long by Spaniards and Portuguese14.
Up to the morning of the 30th of June there had been nothing particular to distinguish the voyage. Occasionally they met a few vessels15 gliding16 along by the banks attached one to another in such a way that a single Indian could manage the whole —“navigar de bubina,” as this kind of navigation is called by the people of the country, that is to say, “confidence navigation.”
They had passed the island of Araria, the Archipelago of the Calderon islands, the island of Capiatu, and many others whose names have not yet come to the knowledge of geographers17.
On the 30th of June the pilot signaled on the right the little village of Jurupari-Tapera, where they halted for two or three hours.
Manoel and Benito had gone shooting in the neighborhood, and brought back some feathered game, which was well received in the larder18. At the same time they had got an animal of whom a naturalist19 would have made more than did the cook.
It was a creature of a dark color, something like a large Newfoundland dog.
“A great ant-eater!” exclaimed Benito, as he threw it on the deck of the jangada.
“And a magnificent specimen20 which would not disgrace the collection of a museum!” added Manoel.
“Did you take much trouble to catch the curious animal?” asked Minha.
“Yes, little sister,” replied Benito, “and you were not there to ask for mercy! These dogs die hard, and no less than three bullets were necessary to bring this fellow down.”
The ant-eater looked superb, with his long tail and grizzly21 hair; with his pointed22 snout, which is plunged23 into the ant-hills whose insects form its principal food; and his long, thin paws, armed with sharp nails, five inches long, and which can shut up like the fingers of one’s hand. But what a hand was this hand of the ant-eater! When it has got hold of anything you have to cut it off to make it let go! It is of this hand that the traveler, Emile Carrey, has so justly observed: “The tiger himself would perish in its grasp.”
On the 2d of July, in the morning, the jangada arrived at the foot of San Pablo d’Oliven?a, after having floated through the midst of numerous islands which in all seasons are clad with verdure and shaded with magnificent trees, and the chief of which bear the names of Jurupari, Rita, Maracanatena, and Cururu Sapo. Many times they passed by the mouths of iguarapes, or little affluents24, with black waters.
The coloration of these waters is a very curious phenomenon. It is peculiar25 to a certain number of these tributaries26 of the Amazon, which differ greatly in importance.
Manoel remarked how thick the cloudiness was, for it could be clearly seen on the surface of the whitish waters of the river.
“They have tried to explain this coloring in many ways,” said he, “but I do not think the most learned have yet arrived at a satisfactory explanation.”
“The waters are really black with a magnificent reflection of gold,” replied Minha, showing a light, reddish-brown cloth, which was floating level with the jangada.
“Yes,” said Manoel, “and Humboldt has already observed the curious reflection that you have; but on looking at it attentively27 you will see that it is rather the color of sepia which pervades28 the whole.”
“Good!” exclaimed Benito. “Another phenomenon on which the savants are not agreed.”
“Perhaps,” said Fragoso, “they might ask the opinions of the caymans, dolphins, and manatees29, for they certainly prefer the black waters to the others to enjoy themselves in.”
“They are particularly attractive to those animals,” replied Manoel, “but why it is rather embarrassing to say. For instance, is the coloration due to the hydrocarbons30 which the waters hold in solution, or is it because they flow through districts of peat, coal, and anthracite; or should we not rather attribute it to the enormous quantity of minute plants which they bear along? There is nothing certain in the matter. Under any circumstances, they are excellent to drink, of a freshness quite enviable for the climate, and without after-taste, and perfectly31 harmless. Take a little of the water, Minha, and drink it; you will find it all right.”
The water is in truth limpid32 and fresh, and would advantageously replace many of the table-waters used in Europe. They drew several frasques for kitchen use.
It has been said that in the morning of the 2d of July the jangada had arrived at San Pablo d’Oliven?a, where they turn out in thousands those long strings33 of beads34 which are made from the scales of the “coco de piassaba.” This trade is here extensively followed. It may, perhaps, seem singular that the ancient lords of the country, Tupinambas and Tupiniquis, should find their principal occupation in making objects for the Catholic religion. But, after all, why not? These Indians are no longer the Indians of days gone by. Instead of being clothed in the national fashion, with a frontlet of macaw feathers, bow, and blow-tube, have they not adopted the American costume of white cotton trousers, and a cotton poncho35 woven by their wives, who have become thorough adepts36 in its manufacture?
San Pablo d’Oliven?a, a town of some importance, has not less than two thousand inhabitants, derived37 from all the neighboring tribes. At present the capital of the Upper Amazon, it began as a simple Mission, founded by the Portuguese Carmelites about 1692, and afterward38 acquired by the Jesuit missionaries39.
From the beginning it has been the country of the Omaguas, whose name means “flat-heads,” and is derived from the barbarous custom of the native mothers of squeezing the heads of their newborn children between two plates, so as to give them an oblong skull40, which was then the fashion. Like everything else, that has changed; heads have re-taken their natural form, and there is not the slightest trace of the ancient deformity in the skulls41 of the chaplet-makers.
Every one, with the exception of Joam Garral, went ashore42. Torres also remained on board, and showed no desire to visit San Pablo d’Oliven?a, which he did not, however, seem to be acquainted with.
Assuredly if the adventurer was taciturn he was not inquisitive43.
Benito had no difficulty in doing a little bartering44, and adding slightly to the cargo45 of the jangada. He and the family received an excellent reception from the principal authorities of the town, the commandant of the place, and the chief of the custom-house, whose functions did not in the least prevent them from engaging in trade. They even intrusted the young merchant with a few products of the country for him to dispose of on their account at Manaos and Belem.
The town is composed of some sixty houses, arranged on the plain which hereabouts crowns the river-bank. Some of the huts are covered with tiles — a very rare thing in these countries; but, on the other hand, the humble46 church, dedicated47 to St. Peter and St. Paul, has only a roof of straw, rather more appropriate for a stable of Bethlehem than for an edifice48 consecrated49 to religion in one of the most Catholic countries of the world.
The commandant, his lieutenant50, and the head of the police accepted an invitation to dine with the family, and they were received by Joam Garral with the respect due to their rank.
During dinner Torres showed himself more talkative than usual. He spoke51 about some of his excursions into the interior of Brazil like a man who knew the country. But in speaking of these travels Torres did not neglect to ask the commandant if he knew Manaos, if his colleague would be there at this time, and if the judge, the first magistrate52 of the province, was accustomed to absent himself at this period of the hot season. It seemed that in putting this series of questions Torres looked at Joam Garral. It was marked enough for even Benito to notice it, not without surprise, and he observed that his father gave particular attention to the questions so curiously53 propounded54 by Torres.
The commandant of San Pablo d’Oliven?a assured the adventurer that the authorities were not now absent from Manaos, and he even asked Joam Garral to convey to them his compliments. In all probability the raft would arrive before the town in seven weeks, or a little later, say about the 20th or the 25th of August.
The guests of the fazender took leave of the Garral family toward the evening, and the following morning, that of the 3d of July, the jangada recommenced its descent of the river.
At noon they passed on the left the mouth of the Yacurupa. This tributary55, properly speaking, is a true canal, for it discharges its waters into the I?a, which is itself an affluent of the Amazon.
A peculiar phenomenon, for the river displaces itself to feed its own tributaries!
Toward three o’clock in the afternoon the giant raft passed the mouth of the Jandiatuba, which brings its magnificent black waters from the southwest, and discharges them into the main artery56 by a mouth of four hundred meters in extent, after having watered the territories of the Culino Indians.
A number of islands were breasted — Pimaicaira, Caturia, Chico, Motachina; some inhabited, others deserted57, but all covered with superb vegetation, which forms an unbroken garland of green from one end of the Amazon to the other.
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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estuary
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| n.河口，江口 | |
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affluent
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| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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geographers
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| 地理学家( geographer的名词复数 ) | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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affluents
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| n.富裕的，富足的( affluent的名词复数 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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tributaries
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| n. 支流 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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pervades
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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manatees
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| n.海牛（水生哺乳动物，体宽扁，尾圆，有鳃状肢）( manatee的名词复数 ) | |
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hydrocarbons
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| n.碳氢化合物，烃( hydrocarbon的名词复数 ) | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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poncho
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| n.斗篷，雨衣 | |
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adepts
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| n.专家，能手( adept的名词复数 ) | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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skulls
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| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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bartering
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 ) | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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artery
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| n.干线，要道；动脉 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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