THE IXDIAX GIEL IN TH"E LLANOS. 115 



prolonged struggle between the other horses and the 

 eels. 



The travellers had little doubt that the fishing would ter- 

 minate by killing successively all the animals engaged ; 

 but by degrees the impetuosity of this unequal combat 

 diminished, and the wearied gymnoti dispersed. They re- 

 quired a long rest, and abundant nourishment, to repair 

 the galvanic force which they lost. The mules and horses 

 appeared less frightened; their manes were no longei 

 bristled, and their eyes expressed less dread. The gym- 

 noti approached timidly the edge of the marsh, where 

 they were taken by means of small harpoons fastened to 

 long cords. When the cords were dry the Indians felt 

 no shock in raising the fish into the air. In a few min- 

 utes Humboldt had five large eels, most of which were 

 but slightly wounded. Some others were taken, by the 

 same means, towards evening. 



The travellers left the town of Calabozo on the 24th, 

 highly satisfied with their stay, and the experiments they 

 had made on an object so worthy of the attention of 

 physiologists. As they advanced into the southern part 

 of the Llanos, they found the ground more dusty more 

 destitute of herbaoje, and more cracked bv the effect of 

 long .drought. The palm-trees disappeared by degrees. 

 The calmer the air appeared at eight or ten feet high, the 

 more they were enveloped in those whirlwinds of dust, 

 caused by the currents of air that swept the ground. In 

 the afternoon they found a young Indian girl stretched 

 upon the savannah. She was almost in a state of nudity, 

 and appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years of age. 

 Exhausted with fatigue and thirst, her eyes, nostrils, and 

 mouth filled with dust, she breathed with a rattling in 



