While the explorers’ ablutions were in progress ape sentinels were seen in the tree tops above their habitations, in which position they continued until a curve of the river concealed them from view.
June 8.—Large parties of Indians have been seen inland on both banks of the river during the day. The swiftness of the river’s current has greatly increased, giving indication of an upward incline to a more elevated plateau. Open glades reaching to the river are now of frequent occurrence. The left or eastern bank is less defined than the western, and bears stronger evidences of alluvial deposits in its arboreal growths.
June 10.—Our redeemed captive boy begins to show many pleasing traits, among which grateful fidelity is not the least. His attachment to Antonio, who first bestowed upon him pitying kindness, is prominently manifest and touching in the simplicity of its promptings. He desired Aabrawa to ask the captain to allow him to remain on board, promising that he would try and speak and make himself useful when recovered from his wound. The captain received his professions of attachment with a warmth that made his eyes glisten with joy. Mr. Welson suggested that it would be necessary to christen him, proposing that Padre Simon should officiate in administering baptismal rites. But the padre objected that he was not in orders, and for a layman to assume the solemn responsibility of baptizing was in his opinion but a grade less than presumptuous blasphemy. M. Hollydorf referred him to the example of John the Baptist when in a similar position, exhorting him to do his duty fearlessly, as the act of consummating the conversion of a heathen would be esteemed a meritorious service by the most bigoted of the sects. The padre still urged, “He does not understand our language, and consequently the effect of redeeming grace necessary for the consecrational rites of Christian adoption fulfilled by baptism.” Mr. Welson said, he need have no scruples on that score, for Xavier, Ricci, and other missionary apostles of the Church boast, each, of the baptism of five thousand and more heathen Chinese in less than a month after their arrival in the country, and without being able to communicate with their catechumens by the aid of interpretation. Having a strong reverence for the opinion of Mr. Welson, he reluctantly consented to officiate. Antonio standing as godfather, he was christened “Tortuga Waantha.” Scenes of this description were a source of renewed vitality to Mr. Welson, as it afforded him special delight to expose the vagaries of the three professions founded upon theoretical science. In fact, the very chairs of his Panamanian office were made available for startling effects in support of his specialities; indeed, his reputation had obtained such distant recognition, that strangers en route preferred to stand isolated in his presence. From these experimental essays none of his friends escaped; sensitiveness, dignity, and reserve, were in fact special invitations for the exercise of his curative skill, if in the slightest degree morbid in tendency. After meridian, when his books had been laid aside for the day, it had been his custom to indulge his quizzical humor in trolling for fun, and it was a rare occasion that did not offer a European or American gudgeon, isthmus bound, ready to take his bait.
As before mentioned, it had been his intention to return from his river voyage by a Brazilian steamer, but the varied characteristics of the members of the scientific corps, with the chance additions, made him resolve to forego the obligations of his business relations for the indulgence offered to his humorous inclinations. Meeting unexpectedly with his old friend Dow at Santa Anna, he eagerly seconded the exploring adventure of the Pilcomayo, from the prospective novelty it offered for the cultivation of his humorous studies. In addition to the incompatible whimsies of scientific association, the questionable reports of an undiscovered inland city provoked a second incentive. With this more explicit introduction of Mr. Welson, who from accident and inclination became one of the most important aids in directing and harmonizing the attainable objects of the expedition, we will resume the thread of our narrative.
CHAPTER IV.
Notwithstanding the confirmed assurance of the sufficient efficacy of the antidote applied by Waantha for counteracting the poisonous inoculation of the padre’s arm, he still continued the use of whiskey with the thoughtless lack of consideration that fosters habits of indulgence and self-imposed penalties. In verification of the advanced statement, that artificial stimulation gave birth to war and the three curative professions, the padre, in common with his paternal ancestors, became polemically disposed when subject to the influence of his imposed habits. Waantha’s happy manifestations of “regeneration” caused him to urge dogmatically, “You must acknowledge, Mr. Welson, that the Jesuit fathers have done much good, for of all nations and sects they alone have succeeded in bringing tribes of Indians under the influence of civilized control.”
“Yes,” replied Mr. Welson, but with the reprobating clause, that “they have manifested in all their missionary labors a paramount zeal for the selfish aggrandizement of their partisan order in the extension of its power for enforcing the control of a hypocritical despotism; the real welfare of the heathen converts being held as a blind of nominal consideration. Indeed, the Jesuitical method enacts the part of whiskey in its habitual rule over the faculties of civilized society; in conjuring for the subjugation of reason superstition for the supremacy of fanatical instinct.”
The padre startled, exclaimed, “Upon my conscience, Mr. Welson, I am afraid you are little better than an infidel!”
Mr. Welson left the padre with an ill-concealed show of disdain. Finding M. Hollydorf engaged, with the assistance of Mr. Dow, in removing a powerful electro-magnetic battery—one of Shockwit’s best—from its case, it occurred to him that amusement, if not more permanent advantage, might be derived in trying its effect upon the savage chief. This proposition was readily adopted, with the resolve that only those necessary for the working accomplishment of their purpose should understand the nature of their occupations. The experiment, under the experienced management of Mr. Welson, promised some rare developments of motor effects, in the production of instinctive superstition, without committing an act of cruelty beyond the wholesome excitement of animal fear. As it was necessary to keep the instrument out of sight to secure the full impression of supernatural effect, the captain offered his stateroom as the best adapted for the preservation of secrecy and the effectual working of the instrument. With the aid of the two sailors, the wires were passed out of the port and run unobserved outside of the bulwarks, and so arranged that the old savage could not escape the full force of the electrical shock. When completed, the connection of the circuit was tried in the absence of persons from the neighborhood of the intended victim. The result was a prolonged yell, that not only surprised the uninitiated on board, but brought inquiring heads forth from ambush on shore. To the wonder and alarm of all on board excluded from a participation in the secret, the old savage was found writhing in an agony of fear entirely bereft of stoicism. Various explanations were suggested to account for the startling phenomena. The padre admonished Mr. Welson that it was, without doubt, the working of the spirit of repentant regeneration, as the Fathers had recorded numerous instances where the self-convicted had cried out in anguish, “What shall I do to be saved?”—the fact being made known after they had acquired a knowledge of missionary language. He averred that there could be but little doubt that it was the workings of the spirit of conviction, from the agony of his expression. Thereupon he desired Aabrawa to inquire into the cause, as it had all of the appearance of a miraculous conversion. But the old chief stared at Aabrawa, helplessly unable to speak through an excess of fear. Mr. Welson then counter-admonished the padre, that as a professed follower of the Church it was his evident duty to point out to the convert the appointed way of salvation. As all supported this suggestion, the padre remonstrated, while looking wofully at his arm, “I once offered him my sympathy and aid for his relief, but he repulsed me so brutally, upon my conscience, I am afraid to try him again.”