WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 21 



soon as be arrived in these upper regions, and im- 

 mediately went below again on tlieir slackening 

 tbe rope. I saw enougb not to fall in love at first 

 sight. I now told them we would run all risks, 

 and have him on land immediately. They pulled 

 again, and out be came — 'monstrum horrendum, 

 informe.' This was an interesting moment. I 

 kept my position firmly, with my eye fijsed stead- 

 fast on him. 



*'By the time the cayman was within two yards 

 of me, I saw he was in a state of fear and pertur- 

 bation : I instantly dropped the mast, sprang up, 

 and jumped on his back, turning half round as I 

 vaulted, so that I gained my seat with my face in 

 a right position. I immediately seized his fore- 

 legs, and by main force twisted them on his back ; 

 thus they served me for a bridle. 



''He now seemed to have recovered from his 

 surprise, and probably fancying himself in hostile 

 company, he began to plunge furiously, and lashed 

 the sand with his long and powerful tail. I was 

 out of reach of the strokes of it, by being near 

 his head. He continued to plunge and strike, and 

 made my seat very uncomfortable. It must have 

 been a fine sight for an unoccupied spectator. 



* ' The people roared out in triumph, and were so 

 vociferous, that it was some time before they 

 heard me tell them to pull me and my beast of 

 burthen farther inland. I was apprehensive the 

 rope might break, and then there would have been 

 every chance of going down to the regions under 

 water with the cayman. That would have been 

 more perilous than Arion's marine morning 

 ride : — 



'Delphini insidens vada cserula sulcat Arion. ' 



