WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 275 



again, and out became, — "monstrum liorrendum, informe." 

 This was an interesting moment. I kept my position 

 firmly, with my eye fixed steadfast on him. 



By this time the cayman was within two yards of me. 

 I saw he was in a state of fear and perturbation ; I in- 

 stantly dropped the mast, sprang up, and jumped on bis 

 back, turning half round as I vaulted, so that I gained my 

 seat with my face in a right position. I immediately 

 seized his fore legs, and, by main force, twisted them on 

 his back ; thus they served me for a bridle. 



He now seemed to have recovered from his surprise, and 

 probably fancying himself in liostile company, he began to 

 plunge furiously, and lashed the sand with his long and 

 powerful tail. I was out of reach of the strokes of it, by 

 being near his head. He continued to plunge and strike, 

 and made my seat very uncomfortable. It must have been 

 a fine sight for an unoccupied spectator. 



The people roared out in triumph, and were so vociferous, 

 that it was some time before they heard me tell them to 

 pull me and my beast of burden farther inland. I was 

 apprehensive the rope might break, and then there would 

 have been every chance of going down to the regions under 

 water with the cayman. That would have been more 

 perilous than Arion's marine morning ride : — 



" Delphini insidens vada cterula sulcat Arion." 



The people now dragged us above forty yards on the 

 sand : it was the first and last time I was ever on a 

 cayman's back. Should it be asked, how I managed to 

 keep my seat, I would answer, — I hunted some years with 

 Lord Darlington's fox-hounds. 



After repeated attempts to regain his liberty, the caym-an 

 gave in, and became tranquil through exhaustiom I now 

 managed to tie up his jaws, and firmly secured his fore- 



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