CROCODILES. 247 



Angostura, an Indian from the island of Margarita 

 having gone to anchor his canoe in a cove where 

 there were not three feet of water, a very fierce 

 crocodile that frequented the spot seized him by the 

 leg and carried him oflf. With astonishing courage 

 he searched for a knife in his pocket, but not finding 

 it, thrust his fingers into the animal's eyes. The 

 monster, however, did not let go his hold, but plunged 

 to the bottom of the river, and, after drowning his 

 victim, came to the surface and dragged the body to 

 an island. 



The number of individuals who perish annually 

 in this manner is very great, especially in villages 

 where the neiglibouring grounds are inundated. The 

 same crocodiles remain long in the same places, and 

 become more daring from year to year, especially, 

 as the Indians assert, if they have once tasted human 

 flesh. They are not easily killed, as their skin is 

 impenetrable, — the throat and the space beneath the 

 shoulder being the only parts where a ball or spear 

 can enter. The natives catch them with large iron 

 hooks baited with meat, and attached to a chain fas- 

 tened to a tree. After the animal has struggled for 

 a considerable time, they attack it with lances. 



Affecting examples are related of the intrepidity 

 of African slaves in attempting to rescue their mas- 

 ters from the jaws of these voracious reptiles. Not 

 many years ago, in the llanos of Calabozo, a negro, 

 attracted by the cries of his owner, armed himself 

 with a long knife, and, plunging into the river, forced 

 the animal, by scooping out its eyes, to leave its 

 prey and take to flight. The natives, being daily 

 exposed to similar dangers, think little of them. 

 They observe the manners of the crocodile as the 

 torero studies those of the bull ; and quietly calcu- 

 late the motions of the enemy, its means of attack, 

 and the degree of its audacity. 



The general nature of the vast regions bordering 

 on the Orinoco may be sufficiently learned from the 



