ELECTRIC EELS. 157 



Even the angler, when fishing from the high bank, is 

 in dread lest an electric shock should be conveyed to. 

 him along the moistened line. Thus, in these regions, 

 the electric fire breaks forth from the lowest depths of 

 the waters. 



' The mode of capturing the gymnotus affords a pic- 

 turesque spectacle. A number of mules and horses are 

 driven into a swamp, which is closely surrounded by 

 Indians, until the unusual noise excites the daring fish 

 to venture on an attack. Serpent-like, they are seen 

 swimming along the surface of the water, striving 

 cunningly to glide under the bellies of the horses. 

 By the force of their invisible blows numbers of the 

 poor animals are suddenly prostrated ; others, snorting 

 and panting, their manes erect, their eyes wildly flash- 

 ing with terror, rush madly from the raging storm ; 

 but the Indians, armed with long bamboo poles, drive 

 them back into the midst of the pool. 



' By degrees the fury of this unequal contest begins 

 to slacken. Like clouds that have discharged their 

 electricity, the wearied eels disperse. They require 

 long rest and nourishing food to recover the galvanic 

 force which they have so freely expended. Their 

 thocks become weaker and weaker. Terrified by the 

 noise of the trampling horses, they timidly approach 

 the brink of the swamp, where they are wounded by 

 harpoons, and drawn on shore by non-conducting poles 

 of dry wood. 



' Such is the remarkable contest between horses and 

 fish. That which constitutes the invisible but living- 



O 



weapon of these inhabitants of the water that which, 

 awakened by the contact of moist and dissimilar par- 

 ticles, circulates through all the organs of animals and 



