University of Virginia Library

CONTENTS

I. THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAIL .................................... 3

• The Call—The "Theta Nu Epsilon!"—Colon—The Grand Hotel, Panama—Guayaquil—Alligators—An appointment.

II. A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY .................................... 9

• Mules—Cacao—La My first trail—Rum—A first-class road—The Córdovez family—Easy money—Salinas—Chimborazo —A window—dresser—An industrial revolution—I retire from business.

III. EXODUS .................................... 27

• Civil War—A warrant—A captaincy—Riobamba—The desert trail—Quito—My passport—The plunge.

IV. JACK ROUSE .................................... 34

• The Mountain trail—Papallacta—The descent—Rain to order—The Inland Mail—Archidora—Edwards the Quaker—The jumping—off place—Napo.

V. THE NAPO .................................... 45

• A Renegade—The vampire bat—Afloat—Mejias the Colombian—Trade—guns—We turn aside—Loreto—A fresh team—Betrayal.

VI. THE LAW OF THE FOREST .................................... 62

• Pursuit—Don Elias Andrade—The Long River—The Paña The Anaconda—The Maquisapa—A find and a loss.

VII. HUNGER .................................... 77

• We learn our job—A monster—Disaster—We face the inevitable—A nightmare march—A trail.

VIII. A PHANTOM PEOPLE .................................... 87

• We take over quarters—Convalescence—The mystery man—Rubber—The last link gone—A permanent base—Vegetarians perforce—A dollar a pound—The Mygab—Snake—bite—A peace—offering.

IX. "PASSAGE MONEY" .................................... 103

• A tapir—The credit system—A night visitor—More tapirs—Fine linen—Rejected—Fever—A gastric feat—The uses of rubber—Pack—ants—Dwindling supplies—Prostration.

X. HIGHWAY ROBBERY .................................... 119

• A mixed diet—A land—crab—A theft—Repayment with interest—We dress up—A steamer—The American engineer.

XI. IQUITOS .................................... 126

• Mud and bamboo—A letter—We sell out—Tropical medicine—Mosquitoes—William Game—A bird which sings at night—The mention of gold.

XII. TROPICAL POLITICS .................................... 137

• A coveted post—The Foreign Legion—La moda inglesa—We make ready—A diary.

XIII. BARRANCA .................................... 146

• "The land of butterflies"—The Cocamas—The last outpost—The hardwoods of the Amazon—A false alarm—A local Rockefeller.

XIV. BORJA .................................... 154

• "War—bags"—Ambusha shows the way—A double celebration—The white alligator—Mitaya Isla—Turtles—We face the Pongo Menseriche—A tragic site.

XV. THE PONGO MENSERICHE .................................... 173

• Snags—Forest calls—A killing weapon—Concentration—A reconnaissance—The great whirlpool—A glimpse of history—We seize the only chance—We get what we deserve—Crawling—Salvation.

XVI. DIPLOMACY .................................... 188

• The call to arms—A concert—Negotiations—Liquid refreshment—Three matches—The Antipas—The "Pongo Chapter"—-Lazaro parleys—Paddles—Bananas—A pact.

XVII. THE ANTIPAS .................................... 201

• Agriculture—Building—Domestic life—Spinning—Weaving —Fishing—Blowguns—Poison—brewing—Religion —Canoemaking—Giamanchi—Basket—making—Medicine —Marriage—Retrospect.

XVIII. TURNING THE CORNER .................................... 224

• Pitacunca leads the way—The crew—A monkey—hunt —A legend—Forest delicacies—Another concert —Fruit—pulp—Wild hogs—Ambusha tries our patience—Shipwreck.

XIX. THE SANTIAGO .................................... 238

• The Promised Land—Adventurous merchants—An unwritten contract —Pedro mounts guard—A sick prophet—The Jivaro medicine —man—We open some boxes—Two more turn backGold—An interruption.

XX. WAR .................................... 251

• A game of bluff—Tuhuimpui declines a drink—The electric eel—Sea—beans—Vanilla—An interrupted sleep—Charred wood—Yacu—Mámam smiles—We take to the woods—Huito —The war—dance—Yacu—Mámam smiles again—A hideous company—Game has trouble with his shoes—The attack.

XXl. THE JÍVARO HEADS .................................... 272

• The collection of the trophies—We retire—An antitoxin—An operation—Fires are lighted—Sacred rites—Hot sand—The festival of rejoicing.

XXII. STRATEGY .................................... 284

• A council—The fleet moves off—We abandon diplomacy—We proceed by raft—Ambusha provides a laugh—Poisonous snakes—Pongo Playa —Jack escapes death—-Fresh supplies—Ambusha retires.

XXIII. THE MORONA .................................... 299

• A swampy maze—The Amazon ants—An invincible army—Jaguars —A portage—Macas—A traveled man—Spate—A rough passage.

XXIV. THE CROWNING FOLLY .................................... 315

• A fresh start—I carry on alone—A bag of gold—Demoralization —A forest romance—Potatoes—A chapter of accidents—A monkey's indiscretion—A mute farewell.

XXV. THE END OF THE TRAIL .................................... 333

• A cinch—I come to my senses—Consular intervention—Home.