8^ I I '.in \\ II II TUB ZAMBO. 



was onlv twelve or thirteen inches. It was eight in the 

 evening, and the breeze was not yet stirring. They 

 crossed the beach which separated the suburb of the 

 (iuayqueria [ndians from the landing-place. Here Hum- 

 boldt heard souk- one walking behind them, and on turn- 

 ing he saw a tall Zambo, naked to the waist lie 



held almost over Humboldt's head a stick of palm-tree 

 wood, enlarged to the end like a club. Humboldt 

 avoided the stroke by leaping towards the left; but Bon- 

 pland, who walked on his right, was less fortunate. lie 



did not see the Zambo as soon as Humboldt did, and re- 

 ceived a stroke above the temple, which levelled him 

 to the ground. The travellers were alone, without 

 arms, half a league from any habitation, on a vast plain 

 bounded by the sea. The Zambo, instead of attacking 

 Humboldt, moved oil* slowly to pick up Bonpland's hat, 

 which, having somewhat deadened the violence of the 

 blow, had fallen off and lay at some distance. Alarmed 

 at seeing his companion on the ground, and for some 

 moments senseless, Humboldt thought of him only. 

 He helped Bonpland to raise himself, and pain and anger 

 doubled his strength. They ran towards the Zambo, who, 

 either from cowardice, or because he perceived at a dis- 

 tance some men on the beach, did not wait for them, but 

 ran off in the direction of a little thicket of cactus. lie 

 chanced to fall in running, and Bonpland, who reached 

 him lirst, seized him round the bodv. The Zambo drew 

 along knife; and in this unequal struggle the travellers 

 would infallibly have been wounded, if some Biscayan 

 merchants, who were taking the air on the beach, had 

 no1 come to their assistance. The Zambo seeing himself 

 surrounded, thought no longer of defence. He again 



