i: 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



October i, 1910. ] 



jungle most weirdly. When «c reached the place where the 

 German boat had grounded, although it was broad daylight, it 

 rained so heavily that one could not see a Iwat's length ahead 

 The pilot knew where we were, but he also knew what the river 

 could do in the way of making new channels and obliterating 

 old ones, so we anchored until it cleared. 



The next morning at 6 o'clock we were about twenty miles 

 from the beginning of the "narrows." About 8 o'clock we were 

 (iff Garupa, where there is quite a settlement. Here the current 

 v.as not as strong, the shore began to be fringed with palms, 

 and il grew much warmer. We began to see rubber trees, huts 

 or. stilts, and banks awash at the river's edge. 



We thought we had been through heavy rains. But the shower 

 than came driving up through the narrows so far outclassed any 

 former experience that we decided we hadn't really known 

 what rain was. It passed after time, however, and we went on. 

 The captain and I had tea and toast, standing up to take it, for 

 there was no dry place to sit, even on that awning shaded deck. 

 At 4.30 we passed through Furo Grande, casting the lead every 

 few feet, as many boats go aground here. We got through 

 without mishap, however, and turned in at 8.30 that night, with 

 the assurance that we would be in Para at dawn. 



AG.MN AT PARA. 



The morning of our arrival at Para wc were up at 5.30, sight- 

 ing the islands of 



the city an hour 

 later. By 9 o'clock 

 we had break- 

 fast, successfully 

 passed the doctor 

 and the customs, 

 and, entering the 

 launch which 

 friends had sent 

 out, went ashore. 



To my surprise 

 and pleasure I 

 found that the 

 rubber importers 

 and merchants 

 had arranged 

 that I should lit 

 their guest while 

 1 stayed in the 

 city, as well as at 

 a banquet to be 

 given that night 

 at Cafe La Paz. 



The story of that banquet, speeches, music, menu, and all, has 

 already been told in the pages of The India Rubukk World 

 by our regular correspondent, and 1 am not going to inflict upon 

 the reader a repetition of the perfect details. I hold myself 

 guiltless, however, for having a mental reservation as to verbal 

 description of this function, wherever and whenever it may 

 seem fitting. For I am proud and delighted every time I think 

 of it. 



-After the banquet I spent the night at the home of a Brazilian 

 friend ; then, the next morning, starting early, went to the 

 steamship office, where a score of friends had gathered to say 

 good bye. A little later, boarding a launch, I returned to my 

 steamer and we were soon en route for Barbados. 



It was then that I met the Peruvian physician, of whom I have 

 spoken, who was very ill of beriberi and was seeking the salt 

 water, which is said to be a sure cure. Me scouted the gen- 

 erally accepted theory that the disease comes from eating pol- 

 ished rice, declaring that no one as yet had any idea of its 

 cause. 



In case any reader needs the services of this very skillful 



TIIK.VTKO .\.\IAZ()N.\S (THE STATE ITIE.VTER) AT MAN.\OS. ON THE UPPER AMAZON. 



physician in Iquitos, his charges are 3 arrobas* of rubber for an 

 ordinary prescription and 25 arrobas for an operation, lo per cent, 

 to be added for shrinkage of the rubber. 



The Peruvian doctor, by the way, told me of a young American 

 ir. Para, who bought a motor car called the "Reo." He wai 

 proud of it and proud of the name Reo that appeared in gilt let- 

 ters on the radiator. He also speeded the machine very rapidly. 

 The courtly Brazilians named him The Reo, some in all honesty 

 and others with a smile af appreciation. He was much flattered 

 until, one day, in brushing up his Portuguese, he discovered that 

 the word meant Criminal. 



As we passed down the Tocantins the captain pointed out 

 a dozen places with broad sandy beaches and fairly high land, 

 that were constantly cooled by the trade winds, where in his 

 judgment Para should have been located. 



By 4 that afternoon only one shore was in sight. The water 

 was turning from a muddy yellow to a tawny green and the 

 ocean swell began to be felt. We left the mouth of the river 

 just at sunset and two hours later were fascinated by the won- 

 derful spectacle of a tropical phosphorescent sea. As the boat 

 plowed through the water, broad streamers of star sparkles un- 

 dulated on each side and trailed for hundreds of yards astern. 

 Every breaking wave to the far horizon was an island of white 

 fire. So bright were these myriad lights that we had difficulty 



in r e c o gnizing 

 Salinas light, and 

 were only sure of 

 it by its yellow 

 coli.r. 



Soon we picked 

 up the pilot boat 

 and watched with 

 interest the half 

 hour struggle of 

 the man in her 

 little tender to 

 get alongside and 

 take oflf our pilot. 

 Finally, by mak- 

 ing a low jump, 

 he landed sprawl- 

 ing in the boat ; 

 then we turned 

 in and slept 

 soundly. 



AND THEN ON 

 THE ATLANTIC. 



The next day 

 northward up 

 all navigators 



we found the great current that sweeps 



the coast of South America and which 



seek in going north but avoid in going south. The day was 



clear and bright, with a strong breeze on our quarter. The big 



freighter, almost flat-bottomed, with no bilge keels, wallowed 



and rolled incessantly but pushed steadily forward. 



Fresh from the smooth waters of the Amazon and somewhat 

 enervated by the heat, captain, officers, crew and passengers were 

 al; qualmish and sometimes frankly sick. Salines and fruit salts 

 were abundantly in evidence. In 24 hours, however, al! had re- 

 covered and were very proud that our ancient ark has made 

 237 miles. The next day it was 281, and the day following 

 exactly the same. Directly after that we were being interviewed 

 by a brisk young physician in the roadstead od Bridgeton, Bar- 

 bados ; were given a clean bill of health, not even being put 

 under observation, and our $50 deposit given back to us. Then 

 we got in the "Lilywhite," were rowed ashore, and the tropical 

 part of the (Brazilian) journey was finished. 



" One arroha = about 32^/3 pounds in Brazil. 

 [THE END.] 



