Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1891 — IN THE AMAZON COUNTRY. [ARTICLE]

IN THE AMAZON COUNTRY.

Explorations of a White Woman lit Booth America. St. Louis Glob®-Democrat's San Francisoo Special. Mrs. A. Dane Piper, a little woman with bronzed skin, is superintending the unloading here of a cargo of South American woods. She is past middle life, but very active, and she stays all day on the wharf and sees that logs of rare wood are properly arranged for hauling away. There are twenty-six kinds of wood represented, some with twany spots and hiaek marks exactly like the skin of a leopard, and others with vivid green markings. She knows every log. “How do I know my logs?” she cried in amazement. ‘Why, how do you tell your gloves from your boots? I have seen every one of those splendid trees alive, and I couldn't forget one leaf of them. ” She has indeed seen them alive, for she is the first white woman that ever went through South America. She went through it from ocean to ocean, and has explored the Amazon and its tributaries. ■ tt--

“My husband explored the Amazon for the Government,” she says, “and I went with him. Our Indians deserted us after we had gone a few hundred miles, and we went on alone down the river in canoes. I never was so happy in my life. I loved the excitement and the wonderful scenery. Sometimes we were glad to get alligator meat for food. The Indians were nearly all friendly, and they came miles to see us. They used to bring great leaves full of water and try and wash off my white skin. They treated me like a queen. They would never suffer me to walk a step or to do the least service. We lived alyear in an Indian village deep in the great forests. The people are gentle and mild, though I staid- with one tribe for awhile that were cannibals. There is another tribe that is leprous, every one covered with snow-white spots and scales. I was out of Sight of a white face, except that of my husband, for five years. I was interested in the savage woman, and it is wonderful to see how quickly they learned 'new ideas. The men nearly all marry two wives. The first is always the ruler of the second, but they seem to get on veil together. They have, so far as I could discover, no religion whatever. They seemed to worship nothing. I saw horrible and cruel sights in those five years. Ido not believe, though, with Stanley, that experiences or that sort make woman one whit less womanly, i think they make her see there is something in the world to -consider besides her comfort and convenience. I live in Guayaquil now. We have a great forest of these trees, and my husband is sending a few samples to this country. I shall send a 26-inch board of this splendid-huec wood to the World’s Fair.”