88 FIGHT WITH THE ZAMIiO. 



"was only twelve or thirteen inclies. ^ It was eiglit in the 

 evening, and the breeze was not yet stirring. They 

 crossed the beach which separated the suburb of the 

 Guayqueria Indians from the landing-place. Here Hum- 

 boldt heard some one walking behind them, and on turn- 

 ing he saw a tall Zambo, naked to the waist. He 

 held almost over Humboldt's head a stick of palm-tree 

 wood, enlarged to the end like a club. ■ Humboldt 

 avoided the stroke by leaping towards the left ; but Bon- 

 pland, who walked on his right, was less fortunate. He 

 did not see the Zambo as soon as Humboldt did, and re 

 ceived a stroke above the temple, which levelled him 

 to the ground. The travellers were alone, without 

 arms, half a league from any habitation, on a vast plain 

 bounded by the sea. The Zambo, instead of attacking 

 Humboldt, moved off slowly to pick up Bonpland's hat, 

 which, having somewhat deadened the violence of the 

 blow, had fallen off and lay at some distance. Alarmed 

 at seeing his companion on the ground, and for some 

 moments senseless, Humboldt thought of him only. 

 He helped Bonpland to raise himself, and pain and anger 

 doubled his strength. They ran towards the Zambo, who, 

 either from cowardice, or because he perceived at a dis- 

 tance some men on the beach, did not wait for them, but 

 ran off in the direction of a little thicket of cactus. He 

 chanced to fall in running, and Bonpland, who reached 

 him first, seized him round tlie body. The Zambo drew 

 a long knife ; and in this unequal struggle the travellers 

 would infallibly have been wounded, if some Biscayan 

 merchants, who were taking the air on the beach, had 

 not come to their assistance. The Zambo seeing himself 

 surrounded, thought no longer of defence. He again 



