WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 245 



ment. I kept my position firmly, with my eye fixed 

 steadfast on liim. 



By tliis time the cayman was within two yards 

 of me. I saw he was in a state of fear and per- 

 turbation; I instantly dropped the mast, sprang 

 up, and jumped on his hack, 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 

 burden 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." 



The people now dragged us above forty yards 

 on the sand: it was the first and last time I was 

 ever on a cayman's back. Should it be asked, 

 how I managed to keep my seat, I would answer. 



