SOUTH AMERICA. 239 



instructing to preserve birds, and, lastly, my- THI * D 



*' * JOURNEY. 



self. 



I informed the Indians that it was my intention 

 to draw him quietly out of the water, and then 

 secure him. They looked and stared at each 

 other, and said, I might do it myself; but they 

 would have no hand in it; the cayman would 

 worry some of us. On saying this, " consedere 

 duces," they squatted on their hams with the most 

 perfect indifference. 



The Indians of these wilds have never been 

 subject to the least restraint ; and I knew enough 

 of them to be aware, that if I tried to force them 

 against their will, they would take off, and leave 

 me and my presents unheeded, and never return. 



Daddy Quashi was for applying to our guns, as 

 usual, considering them our best and safest friends. 

 I immediately offered to knock him down for his 

 cowardice, and he shrunk back, begging that I 

 would be cautious, and not get myself worried ; and 

 apologizing for his own want of resolution. My 

 Indian was now in conversation with the others, 

 and they asked if I would allow them to shoot 

 a dozen arrows into him, and thus disable him. 

 This would have ruined all. I had come above 

 three hundred miles on purpose to get a cayman 

 uninjured, and not to carry back a mutilated 

 specimen. I rejected their proposition with 

 firmness, and darted a disdainful eye upon the 

 Indians. 



