18 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



at last hooked one with a curious wooden hook of 

 four barbs made for him by an Indian. 



The adventure which followed is perhaps one 

 of the most famous exploits of an English nat- 

 uralist. 



'*We found a cayman, ten feet and a half long, 

 fast to the end of the rope. Nothing now re- 

 mained to do, but to get him out of the water 

 without injuring his scales, 'hoc opus, hie labor.' 

 We mustered strong: there were three Indians 

 from the creek, there was my own Indian, Yan; 

 Daddy Quashi,* the negro from Mrs. Peterson's; 

 James, Mr. R. Edmonstone's man, whom I was 

 instructing to preserve birds ; and, lastly, myself. 



''I informed the Indians that it was my inten- 

 tion to draw him quietly out of the water, and then 

 secure him. They looked and stared at each 

 other, and said I might do it myself, but they 

 would have no hand in it; the cayman would 

 worry some of us. On saying tliis, 'consedere 

 duces,' they squatted on their hams with the most 

 perfect indifference. 



"The Indians of these wilds have never been 

 subject to the least restraint ; and I knew enough 

 of them to be aware, that if I tried to force them 

 against their will, they would take off, and leave 

 me and my presents unheeded, and never return. 



** Daddy Quashi was for applying to our guns, 

 as usual, considering them our best and safest 



* The negroes of the West Coast of Africa, as I am informed 

 by Dr. Kodjoe Benjamin William Kwatei-kpakpafio, of Accra, 

 take their names from the day of the week on which they are 

 born: Quashi (Kwasi) is Sunday; Kodjoe, Monday; Koffie, 

 Tuesday. — N. M. 



