Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 287: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

278 in antiquity. The wife of Jadispiato told me that she believed they came more than three hundred years ago from Europe, probably Spain, and their language today is Spanish mingled with the native tongue of the blacks. But if they kept their language, that is the only trace of their former condi- tion. ‘Undoubtedly the blacks were the original inhabitants of the place, and they are all flower worshipers. The whites settled among them and adopted their form of worship—perhaps volun- tarily, to win the favor of the tribe, or perhaps after eating of the poisonous tubers of the Moon Flower. The blacks gradually degenerated and be- came the slaves of the whites. A priest- hood was of course natural among Spaniards, and from the priesthood of the Roman Church it degenerated by degrees to the priesthood of flower idolatry. All these years they have lived quite to themselves, and I suppose the absence of any other: blood has had some influence on their condition. ‘The priests all marry, and in the house of Jadispiato I was led to look upon myself as destined to be the wife of Forresto, but I abhorred the man, and the wife of Jadispiato shielded me. Jadispiato loved his wife, and my es- cape from the unwelcome attentions of Forresto is due to the sacred regard he has for her wishes. “ T have eaten at times of the root of the \foon Flower, but dislike the taste so much that I have not formed the habit. It is a habit and perhaps a vice much like the use of opium. Once ad- dicted to it, one scarcely wishes other food. | * The race is rapidly dying out. The men are, save for a few such as Jad- ispiato and Forresto, weak and incap- able. The few strong minds in the priesthood sway them at will. ‘““ Ameza is surrounded by almost im- passable mountains, and to that fact alone is due the immunity from attack the people have enjoyed. Until Jadis- THE ARGOSY. piato became the ruling priest they lived without knowledge or care of the outside world. But Jadispiato discov- ered that travelers sometimes came to find diamond deposits along the moun- tain streams, and has ever since been wary of visitors. “He has even organized a sort of se- cret service outside of Ameza, and has black agents at Santerem to send warn- ing of expeditions ascending the Tap- ajos. It was in that way he learned of your approach. “The Amezans are almost entirely without arms. They bave knives which they make themselves, but these are im- potent against the arrows and spears, and even guns, of the people who dwell in the forests and villages between here and the Amazon. If the natives of Bra- zil were not so incapable and lazy them- selves, a small force of them could en- ter here and destroy the people. There is practically no defense. “In capturing an enemy the Ame- zans resort to craft. They have a drug which 1s distilled from the inner petals of the Moon Flower, which acts like chloroform. They used this on your party. ‘Such are the people of Ameza, and you can judge now for yourselves what our situation is. Undoubtedly all the friendship Jadispiato formerly had for me is dissipated by my action today. He is vengeful and cruel. Forresto is even more so. ‘These two are virtually the rulers of Ameza, though nominally I have that honor. In fact, I am but a figure, chosen because Jadispiato believed I was good to look upon, and therefore capable of bending the people easily to ° his will as expressed by me. That is the story of Ameza as I understand it.” “It 1s a remarkable story,” said Desklit. “‘ I have heard of many plants of South America with various narcotic and stimulating qualities. Indeed, we use some every day in the practice of medicine—for instance, quinine. Then there is opium from the. peery. sepia CO