Capture and Death of a large Alligator, 79 



A few cane huts were situated a short distance from the 

 river, and we procured from them what men they contained, 

 who were ready to assist in freeing themselves from their dan- 

 gerous neighbour. The terror which he had inspired, espe- 

 cially since the death of their companion, had hitherto pre- 

 vented them from making an effort to get rid of him, but they 

 gladly availed themselves of our preparations, and, with the 

 usual dependence of their character, were willing to do what- 

 ever example should dictate to them. Having reason to be- 

 lieve that the alligator was in the river, we commenced opera- 

 tions by sinking nets, upright, across its mouth, three deep, 

 at intervals of several feet. The nets, which were of great 

 strength, and intended for the capture of the wild buffalo, were 

 fastened to trees on the banks, making a complete fence to 

 the communication with the lake. 



My companion and myself placed ourselves with our guns 

 on either side of the stream, while the Indians, with long bam- 

 boos, felt for the animal. For some time, he refused to be 

 disturbed, and we began to fear that he was not within our 

 limits, when a spiral motion of the water, under the spot 

 where I was standing, led me to direct the natives to it, and 

 the creature slowly moved on the bottom towards the nets, 

 which he no sooner touched than he quietly turned back and 

 proceeded up the stream. This movement was several times 

 repeated, till, having no rest in the enclosure, he attempted to 

 climb up the bank. On receiving a ball in the body, he yt- 

 tered a growl like that of an angry dog, and plunging into the 

 water, crossed to the other side, where he was received with 

 a similar salutation, discharged directly into his mouth. Find- 

 ing himself attacked on every side, he renewed his attempts to 

 ascend the banks, but whatever part of him appeared was bored 

 with bullets, and feeling that he was hunted, he forgot his own 

 formidable means of attack, and sought only safety from the 

 troubles which surrounded him. 



A low spot, which separated the river from the lake a little 

 above the nets, was unguarded, and we feared that he would 

 succeed in escaping over it. It was here necessary to stand 

 firmly against him ; and in several attempts which he made 

 to cross it, we turned him back with spears, bamboos, or 



