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Cornugaya Directory 09
Page 08
My men had an idea that the great river we were looking for must be in
that plain. For a few hours they seemed to have regained their courage.
We heard some piercing shrieks, and we at once proceeded in their
direction, as we knew they came from monkeys. In fact we found an
enormously high tree, some 5 ft. in diameter. Up on its summit some
beautiful yellow fruit stared us in the face. Four tiny monkeys were busy
eating the fruit. Benedicto, who had by that time become very religious,
joined his hands and offered prayers to the Virgin that the monkeys might
drop some fruit down, but they went on eating while we gazed at them from
below. We tried to fire at them with the Mauser, but again not a single
cartridge went off. Eventually the monkeys dropped down the empty shells
of the fruit they had eaten. With our ravenous appetite we rushed for
them and with our teeth scraped off the few grains of sweet substance
which remained attached to the inside of the shells. We waited and waited
under that tree for a long time, Filippe now joining also in the prayers.
Each time a shell dropped our palates rejoiced for a few moments at the
infinitesimal taste we got from the discarded shells. It was out of the
question to climb up such a big tree or to cut it down, as we had no
strength left.
When we drew lots as to whom of us should climb the tree, Benedicto was
the one selected by fate. Benedicto was certainly born under an unlucky
star; when anything nasty or unpleasant happened to anybody it was
always to poor Benedicto. After a lot of pressing he proceeded to go up
the tree, uttering piercing yells as every moment great _sauba_ ants bit
his arms, legs or body. He was brave enough, and slowly continued his way
up until he reached a height of some 30 ft. above the ground, from which
eminence he gave us the interesting news that there were some high hills
standing before us to the west, while to the north-west was a great flat
surface covered by dense forest.
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