i8 4 8.] ALLIGATORS. 69 



which swarmed about the lake. I soon found plenty of them, 

 and, my gun being loaded with small shot, I killed seven or 

 eight at the first fire. They were very pretty little birds, with 

 metallic-green and white wings, and besides forming good 

 specimens, provided us with an excellent breakfast. After the 

 first discharge, however, they became remarkably shy, so I went 

 after the roseate spoonbills, white herons, and long-legged 

 plovers, which I saw on the other side : they also seemed to 

 have taken warning by the fate of their companions, for I 

 could not get near enough for a shot, as there was no means 

 of concealing my approach. 



What is called the Lake is a long, winding piece of water, 

 from thirty to fifty yards wide and of little depth. It is 

 bordered with aquatic plants and shrubs, and in some parts 

 is thickly covered with floating grass and duckweed. It is 

 inhabited by immense numbers of the fish already mentioned, 

 and alligators, which are so thick that there is scarcely any 

 place where you may not stir one up. There are also great 

 quantities of very small fish about two inches long, which I 

 suppose serve as food for the larger ones, which in their turn 

 are probably sometimes devoured by the alligators ; though 

 it appears almost a mystery how so many large animals can 

 find a subsistence, crowded together in such a small space. 



After breakfast the overseer commenced the alligator-hunt. 

 A number of Negroes went into the water with long poles, 

 driving the animals to the side, where others awaited them 

 with harpoons and lassos. 



Sometimes the lasso was at once thrown over their heads, 

 or, if first harpooned, a lasso was then secured to them, either 

 over the head or the tail ; and they were easily dragged to the 

 shore by the united force of ten or twelve men. Another 

 lasso was fixed, if necessary, so as to fasten them at both ends, 

 and on being pulled out of the water a Negro cautiously 

 approached with an axe, and cut a deep gash across the root 

 of the tail, rendering that formidable weapon useless ; another 

 blow across the neck disabled the head, and the animal was 

 then left, and pursuit of another commenced, which was speedily 

 reduced to the same condition. Sometimes the cord would 

 break, or the harpoon get loose, and the Negroes had often 

 to wade into the water among the ferocious animals in a very 

 hazardous manner. They were from ten to eighteen feet long, 



