lU<i TUAVELLERS ATTACKED BY A ZAMBO. 



Hesidence at 



CHAPTER X. 

 Residence at Cumana. 



Residence at Cumana — Attack of a Zambo — Eclipse of the Sun — 

 Extraordinary' Atmospherical Phenomena — Shocks of an Earth- 

 quake — Luminous Meteors. 



Our travellers remained a month longer at Cumana. 

 As they had determined to make a voyage on the 

 CumajaX "" Orinoco and Rio Negro, preparations of various kinds 

 were necessary ; and tlie astronomical determination of 

 places being the most important object of this under- 

 taking, it was of essential advantage to observe an eclipse 

 of the sun wliich was to happen in the end of October. 

 As<:auU on ^^ the 27th, the day before the obscuration, they 



lioupiaud. went out in the evening, as usual, to take the air. 

 Crossing tlie beach which separates the suburb of the 

 Guayquerias from the landing-place, they heard the 

 sound of footsteps beliind, and on turning saw a tall 

 Zambo, who, coming up, flourished a great palm-tree- 

 bludgeon over Humboldt's head. He avoided the stroke 

 by leaping aside ; but Bonpland was less fortunate, for, 

 receiving a blow above the temple he was felled to the 

 ground. The former assisted his companion to rise, 

 and both now pursued the ruffian, wlio had run off with 

 one of their hats, and on being seized, drew a long knife 

 Arrest oi the f^oui his trousers. In the mean time some Biscayan 

 7-imba merchants, wlio were walking on the shore, came to 

 tlicir assistance ; wlien the Zambo, seeing himself sur- 

 rounded, took to his heels and sought refuge in a 

 cowhouse, from wlucli he was led to prison. The in- 



