THE ARGONAUTS OF CALIFORNIA.

 

 

 

 

Page 16.

 

CHAPTER II.

 

ARRIVAL AT ST. CATHERINA--AMERICAN PLUCK--THE FOUR BRAVE TOURISTS.

 

It having been decided by the Captain of our vessel, at the request of many of the passengers, that we visit some port upon the coast of Brazil, upon consulting the sailing directions of Lieut. Maury, it was found that in order to do so it was necessary to first visit the coast of Africa, to take advantage of the trade winds. The ship's course was therefore directed towards the Continent of Africa, at which portion of our planet we arrived in good time; and 'twas not until we found that the dust from that continent was accumulating upon our clothing and other articles on ship board, that our Captain concluded we were near enough to the African coast. Our good ship was, therefore, turned around and the bow pointed towards South America. With a fair wind we crossed the ocean again, and on the 20th of May sailed into the port of St. Catherina and dropped anchor under the guns of the fortification located on the summit of a hill near the town.

      We found lying at anchor here the steamer "Senator," on her way to California, as well as two or three other vessels loaded with passengers from the United States for the same destination. An incident in which the passengers of these vessels took a very prominent part occurred a few days previous to our arrival, and is worth relating, as it illustrates the type of American character which constituted the advance guard of the California pioneers, and proves that the Americans will submit to no indignity from a foreign race, if they possess the power and means of resenting it.

      A young man, a passenger of one of the vessels, was assassinated by a native, but for what reason was not known, although supposed to be from jealousy. The Americans demanded the arrest and punishment of the assassin, but no attention was paid to the demand, and no efforts were made for the murderer's arrest, since he had slain only an "Americano." It may be of some interest to

 

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those of the human family who have adopted the great American Eagle as their emblem, to know that at this period in their history—40 years ago—when iron clads were unthought of and monitors unknown, this nation of people were not held in very high esteem by the various governments and peoples of the South American continent, for the reason that their ports were but very seldom visited by our ships of war, only upon certain isolated occasions, when the American sloop of war "St. Marys," or some craft of similar dimensions, would put into these Southern ports. For this reason, they seemed to be impressed with the idea that, in comparison with England, with the monster ships of war with which they were all familiar, the United States were of little consequence and small potatoes generally. As a consequence, a demand for the arrest for the murderer of the young American was treated with contempt; but they were dealing now with the passengers of three or four ships who were on their way to California—a crowd of Americans who were determined to have the culprit arrested and punished at all hazards. The Governor of the province, beginning to be alarmed by their demonstrations, for they had threatened to capture the fortress upon the hill and to bombard the town, despatched (sic) messengers instantly to the Emperor at Rio Janeiro for assistance, believing, no doubt, that it was the intention of these vile "Americanos" to capture the entire country and annex it to the United States. This idea arose from the fact, as we heard related, that the passengers from one ship did actually enter the fortress and unfolded to the breeze the stars and stripes from the flag-staff, and some one, for fun or accident, had with a piece of charcoal put in an additional star which, of course, represented Brazil. But peace was soon restored; the Governor had the culprit arrested, and after a fair trial he was shot in the presence of those who demanded his execution; and in a few days the ships sailed upon their course for California with passengers satisfied and contented.

      We found, a short distance in the interior, a man with his family from the State of Vermont, who had emigrated here to live in ease and comfort upon the spontaneous productions of the soil, which consist of oranges, bananas and other tropical fruits. He stated that he had been induced to make his home in this tropical country by an acquaintance who was a seafaring man, and had often visited this portion of the earth. Through representatives of the beauty

 

 

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of the country and the little labor and exertion required to live in ease and comfort, he had been persuaded into coming here.

      "The first year was pleasant indeed," said he; "and often when we were conversing upon the pleasures of such a life free from toil and care, we wondered why the greater portion of those who dwelt in the far northern New England States, amidst the snows and rains of their severe winters, toiling and striving for the necessaries of life, did not come to this earthly paradise. These were our thoughts and feelings during the first year; but, after a residence of three years in this beautiful country, with its warm sunny skies and its luxuriant vegetation, despite these advantages, we have been forced to the conclusion that, although the natives of the country were adapted by nature to such conditions of existence, an American never would be. Why, sir, I can take more solid enjoyment and comfort in one year among the rugged hills and rocks of old Vermont, where the maxim is work or starve, than it would be possible to find here in a lifetime, and I intend returning to that country again just as soon as opportunity offers."

      It was here at St. Catherina, also, that we saw for the first time in our lives diamonds in their rough state when taken from the river beds, and which, to all appearances, are ordinary quartz pebbles, such as are often seen upon the sea-shore. In their original state when first formed in nature's subterranean laboratory, they are crystallized with proper facets and angles; but being subsequently deposited in the beds of running streams, in process of time are worn to a smooth surface by friction amongst the gravel of the river. These gems possess but little value until much time and considerable labor is expended in again restoring the worn out facets and angles. So far as known they serve but one purpose in their rough state, and that is to illustrate the fact that although a man may be very careless in his style of dress, paying no regard to the latest fashion and even with his top-coat in rags, yet he may be a real nice sort of man for all that; a gem of the first water beneath a rough coating. Experience illustrates the fact that this is often the case, and for this reason it would be as well before driving the tramp from out the back yard to search beneath his rags for the gem that may possibly be there, or for anything else of value that may be concealed.

      We saw, also, a specimen of the diamond miner, a few of them

 

 

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having just arrived from the mines, hundreds of miles away to the West, in the interior, to dispose of the diamonds to the merchants in the town. One of them explained to us the manner of finding the valuable gem; the process being similar, in some respects, to the methods adopted in California in mining for gold in the river-beds. By the use of wing dams, the stream is turned, and, after shovelling the sand and gravel from the bed rock, search is then made for what are termed pot holes in the hard bed rock, in the bottom of which is found the diamond, or at least it should be there, but unfortunately this is not always the case, as all miners can testify to with sorrow.

      A few miles inland was the border of the great Brazilian forest that we had often read of in our school-boy days, and which, at this point, approaches to within a few miles of the coast. We were informed that a few miles within this dark forest could be found a small lake about two miles in circumferences, and that it was filled with a great variety of creeping ferocious reptiles, such as alligators, crocodiles, huge water snakes and water lizards. Upon its surface, also could be seen water fowl of all kinds, and upon the branches of trees surrounding it a great variety of birds, with the gayest plumage, could be found. Frolicking amidst the tall grass upon its banks would be seen a variety of wild animals, including beautiful specimens of the frolicsome Brazilian tiger. A number of us determined to enter this dense forest and investigate the beauties of this wonderful lake and its surroundings; but we were warned by the natives that it was a dangerous undertaking, unless we procured a suitable guide, as it was very dark and dismal within the forest; and furthermore, that the trails formed by the animals were so tortuous and crooked, that there was danger of getting lost. To our inexperienced minds, an undertaking of this nature offered irresistible fascinations, for we were of a nation that knew no fear, and the national characteristic being to satisfy curiosity, let the consequences be what they may, who should we fear? Were we not armed with the latest discovery that the inventive genius of a Yankee could devise as a protection?  Perhaps the animals in the forest had not, as yet, been made aware of the fact; but would they not crouch in abject fear when we entered the dark trails of the vast forest to see each of us carrying in his hand a Smith & Wesson, duplex patent, double back action, revolver, vulgarly styled a "pepper-box"? Well, I should say they would, and so we

 

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thought. Armed with this style of weapon, one pleasant morning four of us (the bravest ones) determined to enter the forest and beard the tiger of his lair. A native kindly volunteered to leave his daily toil, and, for a small fee, guide us to the entrance of the forest. We examined our weapons, drew a long breath, and in single file, walked in the narrow trail for a short distance into the dark abyss: then stopped, drew another long breath, and marched out again. Not because we had any fear for our individual selves, but for each other, for each didn't like to see the other torn into a mass of shoe strings by an enraged tiger.

      "What was that awful roaring away in there, do you reckon?" asked one.

      "Oh," says another. "That noise was miles away. I ain't afraid, so let's try it again."

      After discharging a few shots at imaginary beasts, as a fair warning to others away in the forest that were not imaginary, we again entered the dark trail and proceeded cautiously onward. The monkeys among the branches over our heads would follow us, and occasionally approach near enough to endeavor to snatch our hats from our heads. We had proceeded in this manner for about a mile, when a Cape Cod chap, who was in the van, suddenly came to a stop, at the same time exclaiming in a very emphatic manner, "Go back! go back, quick!" We all pressed forward, however, anxious to see the cause of the alarm, and we saw it. A few straggling rays of the sun had forced their way through the thick foliage above, and illuminated a small patch of the trail of about two feet in extent, and lying in this sunny spot could be discerned the head of an enormous serpent. The body was there too, of course, but being among the bushes it was not visible. We cared nothing for the body, but it was the ferocious looking head that startled us. Its eyes assumed all the colors of the rainbow. Four pairs of very severe eyes were concentrated upon the eyes of the monster, which seemed to realize the situation, and from a feeling of bashfulness at being gazed upon by strangers, or, perhaps, having caught sight of our weapons, and recognized the brand, from an instinct of coming danger closed its eye. With optics partially closed, it's countenance assumed a very amiable expression; but a slight movement from one of us caused it to again raise its eyes, and made one, at least, of us wish that he hadn't come.

 

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      "Oh pshaw!" remarked a Boston chap, who had attended high school some, "let's go ahead anyhow. You remember that Plato, or some other fellow, said that courage was one of the virtues, or something of the kind. Now let us prove that we are virtuous young men. We will turn his right flank, and get to his rear easy enough."

      "Oh, git out," said the Cape Cod chap; "them form of animals hain't got any right nor left flank at all; nor rear end neither, 'cause their bodies come to a point on the fur end." Just at this moment, the monster made a forward movement and we retired in a rather hasty manner, leaving the serpent to enjoy its sun bath.

      But the reader would ask, since we were so well provided with weapons, why in the name of Cæsar didn't we massacre the brute at once, and go on. It must have been from fear that we did not, and so it was. We were fearful of shooting each other, for we had practiced so little with our weapons that it had not as yet been positively decided whether or not we should aim right at an animal that we desired to massacre, or in the opposite direction. One of the young men who had practiced considerably during the voyage shooting at the big waves, and was always positive that he hit them, somewhere, volunteered to test his skill upon the serpent, but for fear that the noise might make it angry and cause it to bite some of us, he was prevented.

      As we emerged from the forest, our ears were assailed with a most unearthly screeching, that seemed to come from the open country beyond the forest. We concluded, at once, that some ferocious monster had by accident got out of the woods, and was unable to find its way back again. We examined our weapons, determined to sell our lives at the highest price, spot cash, and marched manfully in the direction of our vessel.

      The Cape Cod lad remarked, as we hurried onward, that the screeching reminded him of a political caucus in his native town, and "the cheerman was a-tryin' to call ther meetin' to order."

Upon reaching a slight elevation, we saw, in the road ahead of us, a cart drawn by a pair of oxen, and it was from this that the noise proceeded. We concluded, at once, that the cart contained wild animals that were perhaps being shipped to New York for Mr. Barnum; but upon nearer approach we found, to our astonishment and disgust, that the terrible Brazilian melody was caused by the wheels upon the axles, which in this country are never greased.

 

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      We suggested to the driver, by certain signs, that they ought to be greased, and that it was an evidence of barbarism, and would not be tolerated in any civilized country. "Oh no," he replied, "Americanos no sabe. Wheels no sing: bullocks no go."

      Well, 'tis no wonder they go; anything would go from such a noise, and never return. An army of Kansas grasshoppers would go into the regions above and never return to earth. The terrible screeching was heard also on board of the ship, and it even suggested to our Captain that we ought to go too, and that ten days was long enough to remain in any country where they didn't grease their cart wheels, and we went. After taking on board a good supply of tropical fruits of various kinds, with bananas in greatest abundance, which were suspended to the ship's rigging in all convenient places until she had the appearance of a banana plantation going on an excursion, we sailed again out upon the broad ocean and laid our course for Cape Horn, where we expected to arrive by the middle of June.

 

 

 

 

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor

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