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Two days before we ourselves started with our mule-train, a train of pack-oxen left, loaded with provisions, tools, and other things, which we would not need until, after a month or six weeks, we began our descent into the valley of the Amazon. There were about seventy oxen. Most of them were well broken, but there were about a score which were either not broken at all or else very badly broken.
However, a couple of marches before we reached Tres Burity, where there is a big ranch with hundreds of cattle, we were met by ten fresh pack-oxen, and our serious difficulties were over. There were piums in plenty by day, but neither mosquitoes nor sand-flies by night; and for us the trip was very pleasant, save for moments of anxiety about the mules.
In both these cities there is no provision or merchandise whatever, for all comes from outside on pack-oxen, since in this country they always use beasts for burdens; and every day there enter by these gates 2000 oxen, and every one of these pays three VINTEES, except certain polled oxen without horns, which never pay anything in any part of the realm.
The latter were from seeds brought down by the American engineers who built the Madeira Marmore Railroad a work which stands honorably distinguished among the many great and useful works done in the development of the tropics of recent years. Amilcar's pack-oxen, which were nearly worn out, had been left in these fertile pastures.
No retreat, no flight was possible except to a few, for the pack-oxen and carts had almost all followed the forces to the war, and they had not returned. Nothing could be done but to bury all treasures, to arm the younger men, and to wait. Next day the place became a prey to the robber tribes and jungle people of the neighbourhood.
There were two or three wagons and carts, and a traction automobile, used in the construction of the telegraph-line, but not available in the rainy season, at the time of our trip. Here we were to begin our trip overland, on pack-mules and pack-oxen, scores of which had been gathered to meet us.
"We have had about enough of this sort of travelling," remarked Hendrik, "and it's quite time that we began to think of ourselves, and not quite so much of our property." "What do you wish?" asked Willem. "Abandon the pack-oxen?" "We shall probably have to do so in the end. It appears as if the time had come. We had better save our horses and ourselves and let the others go."
Our own route had diverged, in order to pass the great falls. Captain Amilcar had come direct, overtaking the pack-oxen, which had left Tapirapoan before we did, laden with material for the Duvida trip. He had brought the oxen through in fine shape, losing only three beasts with their loads, and had himself left the Juruena the morning of the day we reached there.
These people turn out with sacks, and often with pack-oxen to collect and bring them to their villages; and on such occasions vast heaps of them are accumulated and stored, in the same way as grain! Conversing of these things the night passed on until it was time for going to bed.
These people turn out with sacks, and often with pack-oxen to collect and bring them to the villages; and on such occasions vast heaps of them are accumulated and stored, in the same way as grain! Conversing of these things the night passed on until it was time for going to bed.
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