The Manatitlans: or, A record of recent scientific explorations in the Andean La Plata, S. A.Smile, R. Elton
Science
The Manatitlans: or, A record of recent scientific explorations in the Andean La Plata, S. A.
Smile, R. Elton
Science fiction, American
During the interim of letter writing in readiness for the anticipated
opening of courier communication with St. Lucia and Anelcoy, Captain
Greenwood had advised Correliana of his wish that the padre and sailors
Jack and Bill should meet the steamer at the latter place. His despatch
urged haste, as he was about to leave the gold spit, which they were
then working; its deposits had become nearly exhausted. When she made
the wishes of the captain known, Abdul Nycaster, the son of the
mayorong, volunteered to act as courier under the conduct of a party of
lower river Indians. These Indians, called by the Mestizoes, Vermojotes,
ranked next to those of the upper valleys in trustworthy intelligence,
so that no fears were entertained for the safety of those intrusted to
their care.
A few mornings after the despatch of the courier and his party, the
Dosch resumed the historical thread of his narration.
* * * * *
You can well imagine, the chronicler exclaims, the enthusiastic
admiration of the Prætor Indegatus’s children for the Manatitlans, when
they saw the anxious expression of their parents’ faces give place to an
unspeakable joy, which imparted its radiance alike to his former
adherents and foes. In evidence of their grateful sincerity they were
unremitting in their endeavors to perfect themselves for the duties of
censors and teachers, as well as in the more direct returns of material
aid to their benefactors’ affections, from their success in raising and
training falcons, which promised the means for the speedy accomplishment
of a reunion with colonistic correlatives. A year and a half had
scarcely passed before the volantaphs were able to extend their flights
a day and a third’s distance in stretch over the ocean, for their own
instruction in the management of the birds free from exhausting
irritation, as well as to accustom them to devour their food while
sustained with parachute and outstretched wings. The volantaphs, while
disengaged from the active duties of their profession, kept the
democratic instincts of the Heracleans in mindful dread of harboring
thoughts of disaffection, held in legacy from hypocrisy, the
progenitorial mother of hatred and misrule, as they had been taught,
with lessons of chagrin, that their thoughts were no longer their own.
The result of this knowledge enforced sincerity, which begat cheerful
confidence in association, an effect that soon became manifest to the
besiegers. Elasticity of thought, unprejudiced by suspicion, soon
imparted its health-giving impression to the movements of the body, and
action of the senses, directing them to the cultivation of useful
occupations devoted to the common welfare. This freedom, in surcease
from the treacherous enactments of suspicion, produced symptoms of
reviving alacrity in the unanimity of action, which the savages detected
from their perch on the brink of the falls’ precipice, with puzzled
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account