FISHES AND FISHING. 163 



rant pool." Humboldt thus describes the struggle 

 which ensued. **The extraordinary noise caused by 

 the horses-hoofs, makes the fish issue from the mud, 

 and excites them to combat. These yellowish and 

 livid eels, resembling aquatic serpents, swim on the 

 surface of the water, and crowd under the bellies of 

 the horses and mules. A contest between animals of 

 so different an organization, furnishes a very striking 

 spectacle. The Indians, provided with harpoons, 

 and long slender reeds, surround the pool closely, and 

 some climb upon the trees, the branches of which 

 extend horizontally over the surface of the water ; by 

 their wild cries, and the length of the reeds, they 

 prevent the horses from running away, and reaching 

 the bank of the pool. The eels, stunned by the noise, 

 defend themselves by repeated discharges of their 

 electric batteries. During a long time, they seem to 

 j)rove victorious ; several horses sink beneath the 

 violence of the invisible strokes, which they receive 

 from all sides, in organs most essential to life, and 

 stunned by the force and frequency of the shocks, dis- 

 appear under the water. Others, panting, with 

 mane erect, and haggard eyes, expressing anguish, 

 raise themselves, and endeavour to flee from the 

 storm by which they are overtaken. They are driven 

 back by the Indians into the middle of the pool ; but 

 a small number succeed in eluding the vigilance 



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