The Hunters' Feast Part 32

"We approached the place in about an hour; but on the way I could not help being struck with the picturesqueness of our party. No `meet' in the hunting-field of civilised countries could have equalled us in that respect. The ubas, strung out in a long irregular line, sprang up-stream in obedience to the vigorous strokes of the rowers, and these sang in a sort of irregular concert as they plied their paddles. The songs were improvised: they told the feats of the hunters already performed, and promised others yet to be done. I could hear the word `tapira' (tapir), often repeated. The women lent their shrill voices to the chorus; and now and then interrupted the song with peals of merry laughter. The strange-looking flotilla--the bronzed bodies of the Indians, more than half nude--their waving black hair--their blue-head belts and red cotton armlets--the bright _tangas_ (ap.r.o.ns) of the women--their ma.s.sive necklaces--the macaw feathers adorning the heads of the hunters--their odd arms and equipments--all combined to form a picture which, even to me, accustomed to such sights, was full of interest.

"At length we arrived among the islands, and then the noises ceased.

The canoes were paddled as slowly and silently as possible.

"I now began to understand the plan of the hunt. It was first to discover an island upon which a tapir was supposed to be, and then encompa.s.s it with the hunters in their canoes, while a party landed with the dogs, to arouse the game and drive it toward the water.

"This plan promised fair sport.

"The canoes now separated; and in a short while each of them were seen coursing quietly along the edge of some islet, one of its occupants leaning inward, and scrutinising the narrow belt of sand that bordered the water.

"In some places no such sand-belt appeared. The trees hung over, their branches even dipping into the current, and forming a roofed and dark pa.s.sage underneath. In such places a tapir could have hidden himself from the sharpest-eyed hunters, and herein lies the chief difficulty of this kind of hunt.

"It was not long before a low whistle was heard from one of the ubas, a sign for the others to come up. The traces of a tapir had been discovered.

"The chief, with a stroke or two of his palm-wood paddle, brought our canoe to the spot.

"There, sure enough, was the sign--the tracks of a tapir in the sand-- leading to a hole in the thick underwood, where a beaten-path appeared to continue onward into the interior of the island, perhaps to the tapir-den. The tracks were fresh--had been made that morning in the wet sand--no doubt the creature was in its lair.

"The island was a small one, with some five or six acres of surface.

The canoes shot off in different directions, and in a few minutes were deployed all around it. At a given signal, several hunters leaped ash.o.r.e, followed by their bright-coloured a.s.sistants--the dogs; and then the chopping of branches, the shouts of the men, and the yelping of their canine companions, were all heard mingling together.

"The island was densely wooded. The _uaussu_ and _piriti_ palms grew so thickly, that their crowned heads touched each other, forming a close roof. Above these, rose the taller summits of the great forest trees, _cedrelas, zamangs_, and the beautiful long-leaved silk-cotton (_bombax_); but beneath, a perfect net-work of sipos or creepers and llianas choked up the path, and the hunters had to clear every step of the way with their machetes. Even the dogs, with all their eagerness, could make only a slow and tortuous advance among the th.o.r.n.y vines of the smilax, and the sharp spines that covered the trunks of the palms.

"In the circle of canoes that surrounded the island, there was perfect silence; each had a spot to guard, and each hunter sat, with arms ready, and eyes keenly fixed on the foliage of the underwood opposite his station.

"The uba of the chief had remained to watch the path where the tracks of the tapir had been observed. We both sat with guns c.o.c.ked and ready; the dogs and hunters were distinctly heard in the bushes approaching the centre of the islet. The former gave tongue at intervals, but their yelping grew louder, and was uttered with a fiercer accent. Several of them barked at once, and a rushing was heard towards the water.

"It came in our direction, but not right for us; still the game was likely to issue at a point within range of our guns. A stroke of the paddle brought us into a better position. At the same time several other canoes were seen shooting forward to the spot.

"The underwood crackled and shook; reddish forms appeared among the leaves; and the next moment a dozen animals, resembling a flock of hogs, tumbled out from the thicket, and flung themselves with a splashing into the water.

"`No--tapir no--capivara,' cried the chief; but his voice was drowned by the reports of guns and the tw.a.n.ging of bowstrings. Half a dozen of the capivaras were observed to fall on the sandy margin, while the rest plunged forward, and, diving beyond the reach of pursuit, were seen no more.

"This was a splendid beginning of the day's sport; for half a dozen at a single volley was no mean game, even among Indians.

"But the n.o.bler beast, the tapir, occupied all our thoughts; and leaving the capivaras to be gathered in by the women, the hunters got back to their posts in a few seconds.

"There was no doubt that a tapir would be roused. The island had all the appearance of being the haunt of one or more of these creatures, besides the tracks were evidence of their recent presence upon the spot.

The beating, therefore, proceeded as lively as ever, and the hunters and dogs now penetrated to the centre of the thicket.

"Again the quick angry yelping of the latter fell upon the ear; and again the thick cover rustled and shook.

"`This time the tapir,' said the chief to me in an undertone, adding the next moment in a louder voice, `Look yonder!'

"I looked in the direction pointed out. I could perceive something in motion among the leaves--a dark brown body, smooth and rounded, the body of a tapir!

"I caught only a glimpse of it, as it sprang forward into the opening.

It was coming at full gallop, with its head carried between its knees.

The dogs were close after, and it looked not before it, but dashed out and ran towards us as though blind.

"It made for the water, just a few feet from the bow of our canoe. The chief and I fired at the same time. I thought my bullet took effect, and so thought the chief did his; but the tapir, seeming not to heed the shots, plunged into the stream, and went under.

"The next moment the whole string of dyed dogs came sweeping out of the thicket, and leaped forward to where the game had disappeared.

"There was blood upon the water. The tapir is. .h.i.t, then, thought I; and was about to point out the blood to the chief, when on turning I saw the latter poising himself knife in hand, near the stern of the canoe. He was about to spring out of it. His eye was fixed on some object under the water.

"I looked in the same direction. The waters of the Xingu are as clear as crystal: against the sandy bottom, I could trace the dark brown body of the tapir. It was making for the deeper channel of the river, but evidently dragging itself along with difficulty. One of its legs was disabled by our shots.

"I had scarcely time to get a good view of it before the chief sprang into the air, and dropped head foremost into the water. I could see a struggle going on at the bottom--turbid water came to the surface--and then up came the dark head of the savage chief.

"`Ugh!' cried he, as he shook the water from his thick tresses, and beckoned me to a.s.sist him--`Ugh! Senhor, you eat roast tapir for dinner. Si--bueno--here tapir.'

"I pulled him into the boat, and afterwards a.s.sisted to haul up the huge body of the slain tapir.

"As was now seen, both our shots had taken effect; but it was the rifle-bullet that had broken the creature's leg, and the generous savage acknowledged that he would have had but little chance of overtaking the game under water, had it not been previously crippled.

"The hunt of the day proved a very successful one. Two more tapirs were killed; several capivaras; and a paca--which is an animal much prized by the Indians for its flesh, as well as the teeth--used by them in making their blow-guns. We also obtained a pair of the small peccaries, several macaws, and no less than a whole troop of guariba monkeys. We returned to the malocca with a game-bag as various as it was full, and a grand dance of the Juruna women wound up the amus.e.m.e.nts of the day."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

THE BUFFALOES AT LAST.

The long looked for day at length arrived when the game were to be met with, and I had myself the "distinguished honour" of being the first not only to see the great buffalo, but to throw a couple of them "in their tracks." This incident, however, was not without an "adventure," and one that was neither very pleasant nor without peril. During several late days of our journey we had been in the habit of straggling a good deal in search of game--deer if we could find it, but more especially in hopes of falling in with the buffalo. Sometimes we went in twos or threes, but as often one of the party rode off alone to hunt wherever his inclination guided him. Sometimes these solitary expeditions took place while the party was on the march, but oftener during the hours after we had pitched our night-camp.

One evening, after we had camped as usual, and my brave horse had eaten his "bite" of corn, I leaped into the saddle and rode off in hopes of finding something fresh for supper. The prairie where we had halted was a "rolling" one, and as the camp had been fixed on a small stream, between two great swells, it was not visible at any great distance. As soon, therefore, as I had crossed one of the ridges, I was out of sight of my companions. Trusting to the sky for my direction, I continued on.

After riding about a mile, I came upon buffalo "sign," consisting of several circular holes in the ground, five or six feet in diameter, known as buffalo wallows I saw at a glance that the sign was fresh.

There were several wallows; and I could tell by the tracks, in the dusk, there had been bulls in that quarter. So I continued on in hopes of getting a sight of the animals that had been wallowing.

Shortly after, I came to a place where the ground was ploughed up, as if a drove of hogs had been rooting it. Here there had been a terrible fight among the bulls--it was the rutting season, when such conflicts occur. This augured well. Perhaps they are still in the neighbourhood, reasoned I, as I gave the spur to my horse, and galloped forward with more spirit.

I had ridden full five miles from camp, when my attention was attracted by an odd noise ahead of me. There was a ridge in front that prevented me from seeing what produced the noise; but I knew what it was--it was the bellowing of a buffalo-bull.

At intervals, there were quick shocks, as of two hard substances coming in violent contact with each other.

I mounted the ridge with caution, and looked over its crest. There was a valley beyond; a cloud of dust was rising out of its bottom, and in the midst of this I could distinguish two huge forms--dark and hirsute.

I saw at once that they were a pair of buffalo-bulls engaged in a fierce fight. They were alone; there were no others in sight, either in the valley or on the prairie beyond.

I did not halt longer than to see that the cap was on my rifle, and to c.o.c.k the piece. Occupied as the animals were, I did not imagine they would heed me: or, if they should attempt flight, I knew I could easily overtake one or other; so, without farther hesitation or precaution, I rode towards them.

Contrary to my expectation, they both "winded" me, and started off. The wind was blowing freshly towards them, and the sun had thrown my shadow between them, so as to draw their attention.

They did not run, however, as if badly scared; on the contrary, they went off, apparently indignant at being disturbed in their fight; and every now and then both came round with short turnings, snorted, and struck the prairie with their hoofs in a violent and angry manner.

Once or twice, I fancied they were going to charge upon me; and had I been otherwise than well mounted, I should have been very chary of risking such an encounter. A more formidable pair of antagonists, as far as appearance went, could not have been well conceived. Their huge size, their s.h.a.ggy fronts, and fierce glaring eyeb.a.l.l.s, gave them a wild and malicious seeming, which was heightened by their bellowing, and the threatening att.i.tudes in which they continually placed themselves.