246 Account of M. tlumholdt' s Travels. 



and these 1 1 2-1 parts contain then, as I found by exact 

 analysis, 106' 8 ot' oxygen, 79 of carbonic acid, and 938- 2 

 of azotic gas, mixed with other unknown gaseous sub- 

 stances. The crocodile then in one hour and three quarters 

 produces 64 parts of carbonic acid, and absorbs 167"2 of 

 oxygen ; but as 46 parts are found in the 64 parts of carbonic 

 acid, it appropriates to itself on! v 121 jjarts of oxvgen ; 

 which is very little, considering the colour of its blood. It 

 produces 227 parts of azote, or other gaseous substances, on 

 which the acidifiablc bases exercise no action. 



I made these experiments in the town of Munpox with 

 lime ^\ ati.»r and nitrous gas prepared with great care. The 

 crocodile is so sensible to carbonic acid gas and to its own 

 exhalations, that ii dies when put into air corrupted by one 

 of its ow n species. It however can live tv> o or three hours 

 without breathing at all. 1 made these experiments on cro- 

 codiles seven or eight ii.ches in length : notwithstanding 

 this smallncss of size, they are capable of cutting ofl' a finger 

 with their teeth, and thev have the courage to attack a dog. 

 These experiments are troublesome, and require great cir- 

 cumspection. We have made ver}' minute descriptions of 

 the caiman or crocodile of South America ; but as the de- 

 scriptions of that of Egvpt which I saw before my depar- 

 ture from Europe were not equally circumstantial, I cannot 

 venture to determine whether they are of the same species. 

 The Institute of Egypt must undoubtedly have obtained de- 

 tails which will remove all doubt in regard to this point. 

 This much however is certain, that there are three different 

 species of crocodile in the tropical regions of the new con- 

 tinent, to which the inhabitants civc the names of hava, 

 cahtian, and crocodile. No naturalist has yet sufficiently 

 distinguished these species. These monsters, as at New 

 Barcelona, are sometimes of so peaceable a nature that peo- 

 ple bathe before them; and sometimes, as at New Guiana, 

 they are so mischievous and ferocious, that during the time 

 we were there they dcNourcd an Indian on the quay in the 

 middle of the street. At Oratueu we saw an Indian girl, 

 eighteen years of age, whom a crocodile seized by the arm. 

 She had the courage to put her other hand into her pocket 

 to pull out her knife, with which she gave the monster so 

 many wounds in the eyes that he let her go, but cut off the 

 arm near the shoulder. This girl's presence of mind was as 

 astonishing as the skill displayed by the Indians in speedily 

 curing so dangerous a wound : one might have said that the 

 arm was amputated and dressed at Paris. 

 Near Santa-Fe there are found in the Campo de Gigante, 



at 



