India rubber world . ored, guides and mules were awaiting us. This time ourcaptain ventured within three miles of the shore and sureenough saw two men. A boat was sent and, in course of time,night having fallen, a light appeared dancing over the waves,and soon there stepped aboard the Pioneer, who was to furnishguides and transport. He had been waiting nearly a week andwould have left the next day believing that we had turned backor been wrecked by one of the Pacific hurricanes. The Pioneer had been in that country for many years andhis stories of rubber gathering up in the Cauca, and adventur
India rubber world . ored, guides and mules were awaiting us. This time ourcaptain ventured within three miles of the shore and sureenough saw two men. A boat was sent and, in course of time,night having fallen, a light appeared dancing over the waves,and soon there stepped aboard the Pioneer, who was to furnishguides and transport. He had been waiting nearly a week andwould have left the next day believing that we had turned backor been wrecked by one of the Pacific hurricanes. The Pioneer had been in that country for many years andhis stories of rubber gathering up in the Cauca, and adventuresin the Darien with the fierce San Bias Indians, were most in-teresting. As is well known, these savages do not allow tres-passers upon their lands although they do not molest thosewho gather rubber in the wilds adjacent to their domain. ThePioneer acknowledged that he once broke an agreement witha chief, stole across the river that marked his boundary, andbegan work on the rich forbidden forest. As a result his men. CAMP RIO NEQRO (TOTBE DESCRIBED LATER). Decemi;er I, 1904] THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 77 were shot down, one by one, until only he and one negroescaped. Another time he was caught far up a river by the dry season,and had to wait for the rains. When they finally came and hegot his rubber afloat, they had for provision only rice and bana-nas. Floating down the river one evening in the bright moon-light they came to a fine stretch of beach, and he at once or-dered the canoe men to make camp there. They refused, withevery evidence of extreme terror, as they said the place washaunted. The Pioneer, tired and hungry, forced them to doas he ordered by threatening them with his revolver, andsoon had supper and was quickly sound asleep under his mos-quito netting. About midnight, just as the moon was setting,he was awakened by a strange and dreadful cry. Sitting up tocall the crew they suddenly threw themselves upon him, heldhim down, and practically gagging him kept him quiet
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