Chap. III. ALLIGATORS. 185 



bows and arrows that the animal scampered off and 

 was heard of no more. Alligators were rather trouble- 

 some in the dry season. During these months there 

 was almost always one or two lying in wait near the 

 bathing-place for anything that might turn up at the 

 edge of the water ; dog, sheep, pig, child, or drunken 

 Indian. When this visitor was about, every one took 

 extra care whilst bathing. I used to imitate the natives 

 in not advancing far from the bank and in keeping my 

 eye fixed on that of the monster, which stares with a 

 disgusting leer along the surface of the water ; the 

 body being submerged to the level of the eyes, and the 

 top of the head, with part of the dorsal crest, the only 

 portions visible. When a little motion was perceived in 

 the water behind the reptile's tail, bathers were obliged 

 to beat a quick retreat. I was never threatened myself, 

 but I often saw the crowds of women and children scared 

 whilst bathing by the beast making a movement to- 

 wards them ; a general scamper to the shore and peals 

 of laughter were always the result in these cases. The 

 men can always destroy these alligators when they like 

 to take the trouble to set out with montarias and har- 

 poons for the purpose, but they never do it unless one 

 of the monsters, bolder than usual, puts some one's life 

 in danger. This arouses them, and they then track 

 the enemy with the greatest pertinacity ; when half 

 killed they drag it ashore and despatch it amid loud 

 execrations. Another, however, is sure to appear some 

 clays or weeks afterwards, and take the vacant place on 

 the station. Besides alligators, the only animals to be 

 feared are the poisonous serpents. These are certainly 



