STRANGE BEASTS ABOUT GAMBRA ad. 



1620. 

 Sea-horses and Crocodiles, or Alegators. This they call River horses 

 Bumbo, whose length we have measured in the impression an<i Crocodile. 

 made in the sand, whence we have driven him, three and 

 thirty foot, so feared of the Natives that they dare not 

 wash their hands, wade, or swim in the great River, 

 telling of many their friends by this enemie devoured. 

 Neither dare they passe over their Cattell ; but when Feare of the 

 they passe over a Beefe, a Canoe goeth before, whereto Crocodile. 

 one holds him close with a rope fastned to his homes, 

 another holds up his tayle, the Priest or Marybuck in 

 the midst praying over the beast, and spitting on him, 

 by whom stands another with Bowe and Arrowes ready ; 

 and thus they passe them one by one. And when wee 

 were forced in a shallow place to enter the water, and 

 force the Boat against the current, the Blackes would not 

 be perswaded, saying, Bumbo would have them ; till at last 

 on better consideration, at a third straight, they bethought 

 themselves that a white man was more conspicuous in the 

 water, and therefore adventured. Yet did I never finde 

 them to assault us in all this way, but when many of 

 them lay on the sands, they would avoide us, as Snakes 

 use the noise and sight of men with us ; boldest in deepe 

 waters. Their musky sent made us oft to stop w bur ' 

 nostrils. It made both the water and fish also in 

 some places to taste and rellish of them, that wee could 

 not eate the one, nor drinke the other. The noise of 

 them in that place, whereby they call one to another 

 (resembling the sound of a deepe well) might be heard 

 a league. 



The River-horse is in fashion of body a compleat See before in 

 Horse; hath round buttocks, short eares, wagged to his Sanios c. 12. 

 mouth, two teeth standing right before on his lower chap a arger 



® . " . *■ scription. 



great and dangerous, neighing directly like a Horse, foure where our 



legs, short, the foot divided, some so great that I have men may 



measured a print twenty inches over. Hee doth hurt ieame t0 take 



in the Rice-grounds, but generally feeds on low marish *!?! I ?° rse ' 



grounds, where the Sedge is greene in herds by night ; crocodile fcfr. 

 bold in the water, snorting, neighing, and tossing the 



59i 



