26



Mr. F. E. Blaauw,



luggage was to be taken by oxen-cart. A pack horse was to carry

my valise along with me, as the cart would take some twelve hours

longer to reach Osorno. Now the first difficulty with my “ lorito ”

began. How was he to travel ? I had thought of the oxen-cart,

but I was told that this was not safe. Then I suggested to the

peon that he should fasten the box with the bird on the pack-horse

that carried my valise, but the man, apparently an exception to most

of the people in those parts, was fond of birds and was horrified at

the idea, saying that it would shake the bird to death and that he

was quite willing to carry the box in his hand. This certainly was

the best plan and I gladly accepted his proposal. The man was as

good as his word and carried the bird the whole 60 kilometres in his

hand, bringing him safely to Osorno.


Having resolved to try to bring this one bird home, I of

course thought how I could obtain a second one, and as we passed

the same wood, where a week previously I had noticed a cabin wfith

one of these birds in captivity, I took great care not to miss the

cottage and, having found it, enquired after the bird I had seen

there. The answer was disappointing; the bird had died the day

before !


In Osorno I asked the innkeeper where I could get a second

parrakeet, and his answer was that the only way was to take a walk

through the streets and listen for the screams of a bird of this kind,

and then to enter the house and try to buy it. Following this

advice, after some time a parrakeet’s screams were heard right

enough, and on going to the door of a bookseller, thinking the bird

was there, I was informed that it was in his neighbour’s house,

to which I betook myself and asked to see the bird, of which I, ten

minutes later, became the happy owner for the sum of one peso.

The woman (a milliner) said that it belonged to her boy, but that he

did not care about it any longer and she would be glad to get rid of

it. So I carried off my prize in a paper box, taking it to the inn,

where I introduced it to the other bird. A great battle followed but

no harm was done, and as I had to leave by train soon after, I put

both birds in the small box and took them away with me. Their

travelling about in this manner quieted their tempers and they were

soon great friends. In Valdivia I had a better box made for them,



