106 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ALBANY MEETING 



big tree below camp and liave a hard struggle getting over. . . . We get 

 stuck on all the snags, but by good luck and bull strengh finally reach camp. 

 T hustle around and get places for the men to sleep. They are entirely help- 

 less in an emergency and the oflBcers are almost as bad. Everybody disposed to 

 grumble, and I have to blow them up and put them in good humor or on their 

 mettle. . . . F. drives pipe 30 feet before taking sample and would go on 

 indefinitely if not stopped. Appears to think object is to get a hole in the 

 ground rather than to find out what he is driving through. T stay with him 

 all the morning and keep his record. . . . We reach M.'s ranch just at dusk. 

 . . . Sleep in dining-room. The house is surrounded by piazzas, and these 

 are occupied by many dogs, while a large brood of pigs lives under the house. 

 The dogs get excited at intervals during the night and make frightful racket, 

 while the pigs have their own differences to settle. 



"This morning . . . heard a noise in the high grass and, turning, saw a 

 'mountain cow,' or tapir, quietly feeding about 15 feet from me. After getting 

 a good look at beast, I fired at it with my revolver and it went crashing off 

 into the bushes. . . . Spent the day building raft, . . . practically ready 

 for use. It is 14 x 16 feet, with a recess at one end for the drill. We finished 

 it, fitted anchors, set up the drill, and then started to our station. A boat crew 

 carried an anchor as far as possible, the raft was swung out on this, and 

 when at rest the boat carried out another anchor. In this way we worked out 

 into midstream and lowered the raft gradually to the line of the dam, and then 

 drove down two piles on either side. . . . Continue up the creek with in- 

 creasing difficulties. Kill an alligator 9 feet long with an improvised spear 

 made by lashing a machete to a pole." 



While engaged in this work Hayes had his first experience with revo- 

 lutions, a condition with which he was destined to have much close con- 

 tact during his Mexican experience. In February, 1898, he records that : 



"We hear various rumors of a revolution. One is that they have seized the 

 boats on the lake and another that they have captured Rivas." 



At Granada some time later he notes that : 



"A rabble of generals and barefooted soldiers come aboard (the river steamer) 

 and raise Cain most of the night. . . . The town is filled with soldiers — a 

 rugged mob. Business is at a standstill and most of the well-to-do men are 

 'emigrados.' . . . There have been nine revolutions since the liberal party 

 came into power five years ago." 



He, however, writes home reassuringly : 



"Also you must not worry about any reports you see in the papers regarding 

 revolutions. They are harmless, but very annoying, as the Government has 

 impressed all the steamers and we ha^ e great diflSiculty in getting supplies \\]) 

 into the interior." 



Though holding- only a comparatively subordinate position, Hayes's 

 strong personality and quick insight into the large problems gave liim 



