LOUISIANA. 281 



eoipc out of the river in the calm of night, and 

 voracious as thefe creatures are, being attradled 

 by the barbel which lay at niy feet, he greedily 

 fell upon it, and carrying it to the river he took 

 me along by the corner of the tent in which I 

 had wrapt myfelf up. Ihad time enough left 

 to get out of it, at the border of the precipice, 

 and fo efcaped with the fright. I only laved the 

 bear's fl<.in, which I never leave now. This 

 ftory, plain as it is, may pafs for a prodigy 

 anion g thofe who love the marvellous. 



The Collapijfas and Wanchas^ two little In- 

 dian nations, which live above New Orleans^ 

 fight with the crocodiles, or alligators, in the wa* 

 ter in the following manner. 



One takes a piece of hard wood, or of iron, 

 and fharpens it at both ends •, he takes hold of it 

 in the middle, and fwims with that one arm ex- 

 tended. The alligator advances with his mouth 

 open, in order to devour the arm of the Indian, 

 who thrufts in his hand in which he holds the 

 piece of wood, and the alligator pierces both 

 his jaws through with it, can neither open nor 

 (hut his mouth again, and is brought on ihore, 

 fey the Indian ; they often take this diverfion ; 



and 



