OUR HAUNTED WORLD

The vampire bat from South America sucks blood from sleeping animals. It has given rise to stories of vampires - people that return from the dead as monstrous bats and suck the blood of others, turning them into vampires, too.

Many of the ancient, megalithic cities in South America use enormous, carved stones as building blocks. Their irregular shapes withstand earthquakes and they weigh up to 200 tonnes! No mortar is used to hold them together, but you can't slide a piece of paper between the stones. No-one knows how the ancient builders carved and fitted the stones so perfectly. A plant juice which turns stone soft could be the answer. A jar of liquid found in an old tomb was spilt on a rock. Explorer Colonel Fawcett said, 'It was as if the stone had melted, like heated wax.' In 1911, a Peruvian explorer told of a man whose metal spurs had corroded away during a long jungle walk through red, fleshy-leafed plants. Locals said the plants were used to shape and fit the stones.

Stories of a great lost South American city, built by unknown people, have kept explorers excited for centuries. It's rooms are said to have had permanent lighting created by 'captured stars' or crystals. Once dismissed by many as being impossible things for an ancient race to have achieved, we now know it could have been done. Scientists have grown crystals of quartz containing phosphorus. This crystal absorbs daylight, and then gives out it's stored light at night, rather like a storage battery. A light like this could shine for years.

Two huge blocks of ice fell on Sao Paulo on 11 and 15 July, 1997. The first weighed 50 kilos and made an enormous hole in the roof of a bus factory in Campinas. The second fell about 60km further north and created a big crater in the ground. The local airport announced that no planes had been in the area when the ice blocks fell! This meant that officials could not blame the falling ice blocks on passing aircraft. So where did they come from?

Lieutenant Colonel Percy Fawcett, the great explorer, was canoeing along western Brazil's Rio Abuna in 1907, when a giant anaconda surfaced - scarily close to his canoe. As the snake slid ashore, Fawcett shot it dead, then measured it. It was nearly 19 metres long. In 1948, a 35 metre specimen terrorised soldiers at Fort Tabatinga. That snake took 500 machine-gun bullets to kill! Even more monstrous water-boas have since been reported, inspiring the 1997 film, Anaconda.

The Venus Fly-trap is a well-known meat-eating plant, but in the early 1970s, Brazilian explorer Mariano da Silva discovered a carnivorous tree near the Brazilian boarder with Guyana. This tree uses a vicious trick to catch it's dinner - it puts out a scent that monkeys cannot resist. They are lured to the tree and climb it's trunk. As the monkey starts to climb, the tree's large leaves swiftly wrap around the unsuspecting creature, and completely enfold it. A few days later, the leaves unfurl and out drop the bones of the unlucky monkey. By this time, every scrap of flesh has been removed and consumed by the hungry tree. Although known to the local people, scientists have yet to examine a specimen of this deeply spooky tree!

The Indians of the Amazon have long told tales of a bizarre creature called a mapinguary. It is a giant red-furred creature that is said to leave back-to-front footprints! But it's most freaky feature is it's 'extra mouth' in the middle of it's belly! When it feels threatened, it lets out a truly vile stench from this second mouth, which, the Indians say, is strong enough to suffocate any attacker! The mapinguary is also said to be bullet-proof. Some scientists think this mystery beast may be related to a mylodontid, an extinct prehistoric ground sloth. Whatever it is, the jungles of the Amazon are so dense that it may not be the only prehistoric survivor.

Don't pee in the Amazon River unless you want the most painful surprise of your life! Lurking in it's waters is a nasty little parasite called the candiru. This horrific, eel-like fish, which is about 2.5cm long, is attracted to urine streams. It swims up them, all the way into a person's body! Once there, it's hooks, dig in like grappling irons, making it impossible to remove. It then starts to eat you from the inside! Yeeeeurgh!

Tales of lost cities and ancient master builders abound in the dense Amazonian jungle. On 30 December, 1975, the Landsat II satellite spotted what looks like an ancient city in south-eastern Peru. It's pictures reveal twelve pyramids, some of which are nearly as big as the Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt. Various expeditions have set out to find these weird, ancient wonders and several explorers have died in the attempt. Even now, over 20 years later, no-one has been able to reach the area. If anyone does ever reach these pyramids, you can bet that the historians will have to start re-writing history.

Poltergeists usually focus on one person but, in 1973, in the jungle near Ponta Pora, on the boarder of Brazil and Paraguay, a poltergeist homed in on an entire village. At first, local's beds were raised into the air, whilst they were sleeping, and pushed around by an unseen force! Then a 76 year old farm worker and local children were pelted by a hailstorm of tomatoes. When a reporter came to investigate, his jeep mysteriously moved itself 40 metres uphill, leaving no tracks in the mud. Torch batteries and an iron railing materialised on the reporter's bed, only seconds after he'd left the room. Burn marks began to appear all over a house. The final straw came when a farmer's baby disappeared in it's pram. The baby was later found, unharmed, beneath a tree on the farm. Eventually, the poltergeist moved it's activities elsewhere and village life returned to normal at last.

In 1997, a snake the size of two buses was spotted slithering through the Amazon. Villagers reckoned the jet black boa constrictor was a record-breaking 40m long and 4.6m in diameter. It trampled down trees and left a ditch wide enough to drive a vehicle through, they said. After making a grand appearance, the boa made a big splash into the River Napo, never to be seen again. Only five people from the village of Nuevo Tacna actually saw it, but hundreds said they felt it move. When the news hit the airwaves, reporters joked that villages must have mistaken the boa for a large lorry. According to locals, however, machinery of that sort is banned from the forest. The tale rumbles on!

In 1911, a climber stumbled across a snake-infested city, on top of a mountain! Machu Picchu is totally invisible from below and, when it was built 500 years ago, the only entrance was through a single doorway. Once the inhabitants had climbed up, they never needed to go back down. The city had houses, jails, temples, a cemetery and abundant crops. There was even a solar clock which told them the time. Although a great deal is known about Machu Picchu itself, no-one knows what happened to the inhabitants as few skeletons were found. Some 20th century explorers claim the city is watched over by a guardian light, that is shaped like a person with a big round head.

Dead bodies are usually buried underground but, in Peru, some like the Ice Maiden have been found frozen on mountain tops. The Ice Maiden was discovered in 1995, wrapped in a cloth bundle, 7000m up Mount Ampato. Incredibly, she was almost perfectly preserved after 500 years. Her remains revealed some gruesome clues as to her last hours alive. Apparently, she ate a meal of vegetables six hours before she was clubbed to death. After that, she would have taken two weeks to freeze from the outside in. Tests on her clothing and body have revealed vital information about her culture and who her living relatives might be.

In a creepy cave near Nazca, explorers have discovered a group of small mummies which glow in the dark. Reports say that, during the 1980s, anyone who touched them grew strange open sores on their fingers. Little else is known about the weird powers of the mummies. None of their victims wrote about their experiences. Perhaps their hands were too painful?

Brothers Tim and Dave were fascinated by tales of lost ancient cities and carried out extensive research before their trip to Brazil. One article referred to the ancient people of Akakor. and told of how these people were visited by an alien race with flying machines.

Reports of vast underground cities connected by secret tunnels, fascinated the two men, who decided to explore that particular region. Armed with survival equipment, cameras, maps and a whole load of enthusiasm, they arrived at one of the villages which they had read about.

Their arrival in the village caused much interest and they were introduced to a local man who claimed to be a descendant of the ancient race of Akakor. They spoke at length with the man, and listened, entranced, as he related tales of his ancestors.

They were spellbound when he mentioned the secret entrances to the tunnels, but he warned that these entrances were booby-trapped to stop unwanted visitors. After the meeting, Tim decided that the exploration would be too dangerous, and suggested deciding the following day where they should head next.

The next morning, Tim found to his horror, a note from Dave saying he was sorry, but he would have to go on, and had found a guide who would lead him to the tunnel entrances. Tim could only wait anxiously in the village for Dave's return. Tim had almost given up hope of ever seeing his brother again, when, twelve months later, a stranger arrived in the village. So strange was he, with long white hair, and wild staring eyes, that Tim did not recognise his own brother! He never spoke, but continued on his journey. Dave remained a total stranger, but wrote just once, a brief note to say that he had indeed found the secret tunnels of the ancient Akakor people. No further contact was ever made between the two men, and Tim never found out what had caused the immense change in his brother, or where he had gone.

A man recently returned from travelling round South America with the strangest story he had heard on route. He had stayed in a village where the locals told him about how their bravest man and his family had died in the strangest way. Julio and his two sons were highly respected. Julio was always available to entertain the villagers with his devil-may-care attitude.

He was always good for a wager, taking on the most dangerous tasks. Luis was growing up just like his father, strong, brave and totally fearless. One night, Julio and some of his friends spotted a coral snake - a shy but deadly snake. Julio's friends dared him to kill the snake by just stomping on it. He was always ready to prove how brave he was, and, as usual, accepted the task. Boldly, he strolled up close to the snake.

It saw him and was not amused. It reared up ready to attack, but Julio was ready and bought his boot down on it's head, killing it instantly. Once again, Julio was the hero of the evening and he and his friends laughed and celebrated well into the night. A few days later, unexpectedly, his son found him dead on the bedroom floor. There were no signs to indicate how he had died. His eldest son, Luis, was expected to follow in his father's footsteps, and as a mark of respect, he kept his father's boots. Keen to don his father's mantle, he pulled on the boots, and headed out on his horse into the desert. Two days later, the horse and Luis returned. Luis was slumped over the horse's back. Villagers helped him down, fearing that he was ill. He was, in fact, dead, and had been for some time. The villagers mourned yet another of Julio's family, and, after Luis had been buried with his father, the boots passed down to the younger son. One week later, he also died. The villager's became worried in case they too would die in mysterious circumstances, so called in the local doctor to examine the boy. The cause was eventually tracked down to the boots! On examination, a small part of a coral snake's fang was found embedded in the sole of one of the boots, which still contained enough venom to kill all the members of the family. The snake had had it's revenge!

David had saved for months towards his dream holiday to South America. He wanted to see the Amazon rainforests while there were some left to see. Before he left, he had to visit his doctor for vaccinations. Whilst there, the doctor advised him that swimming in the Amazon, no matter how tempting was very unwise. A few weeks later, when in Brazil, he booked himself on a tour of the local rainforest.

A few days later, he met up with the guide and introduced himself to the other members of the group. Then it was time to sample the real taste and experience of the rainforest.

David decided the temptation was too great not to take a dip in the Amazon. What a tale he could tell when he got home. It was so hot and the water looked cool and inviting, so he took off his boots and dived in. Next minute, David was startled by the guide shouting out his name. Turning towards him, he accidentally swallowed some river water.

The guide was less than happy, and raged against the stupidity of the man, and warned them all of the dangers of the Amazon river, of the creatures who lived in and around the water.

Nevertheless, the rest of the trip passed uneventfully, and before long, David had returned home to show off his photos and his healthy tan. Over the next few weeks, David's appetite grew. Although he ate and ate, he grew thinner.

His worried parents insisted he visited the doctor, who was alarmed enough to have him admitted to hospital immediately. Eventually, the surgeon decided to operate and found a metre long, pale snake inside David's stomach. Whilst swimming in the Amazon, he had unknowingly swallowed a tiny, newly hatched watersnake, which was now full grown. David rarely fancies swimming now, but when he does, he always makes sure that his mouth is tightly closed!

If you ever visit Brazil, try to time your arrival with the Rio Carnival, but be on your guard against thieves, unlike Tom, who had the most alarming experience on holiday there. Many Brazilians spend all year designing their masks and costumes ready for the event.

Tom was delighted and took loads of photos. There was plenty to see, and the costumes were fabulous. He was caught up in the party atmosphere, dancing in the streets, drinking from the many bottles passed around, partying all night long.

Finally, he rested, exhausted, in the bar in his cheap hotel. A friendly pair of revellers started a conversation, and talk turned round to where he was from. One of them offered to buy him a drink, but Tom felt he'd probably had more than enough alcohol than was really good for him, so he agreed to just an orange juice for politeness sake.

He continued chatting and drank his drink, and then got up and excused himself, explaining he had had a fantastic time, but now he suddenly felt very tired, indeed. The couple kindly offered to help him back to his hotel room.

When he awoke, he felt ghastly. He staggered into the shower room, hoping a shower would improve how he felt, and then stopped in horror. In the mirror, he could see he now had an enormous stitched-up knife wound in his side! He dressed as quickly as he could, and took a cab to the nearest hospital where he was told he had probably been drugged, and, whilst unconscious, someone had operated on him and stolen one of his kidneys! A doctor explained that selling body parts was a booming business worldwide, and, once taken, a body part can't say where it came from!