320 Capture mid Death of a large Alligator. 



tions prevailing at Ceylon and Luconia; such as the alligator 

 swallowing a stone whenever he kills a human being, as if to 

 keep account of his misdoings, and, after devouring the body, 

 placing the head before him and weeping from remorse. 



It is not strange that extravagancies like this should be current 

 with so rude a people ; but it is singular that two, remote from 

 each other and without connection, should both give credit to the 

 same absurdities. 



The native of Luconia, the island on which Manilla is situa- 

 ted, is excessively fond of the marvellous. He is ever ready to 

 give supernatural constructions to every thing that cannot be 

 solved at once ; and there is no limit to his credulity. One 

 night, in the country, my attention was directed to a light mid- 

 way on a mountain, which I naturally attributed to a fire made 

 by some one who had lost his way — as proved to be the case — 

 not so the Indians. It was too favorable an opportunity to let 

 pass with such a common-place supposition. They said an ana- 

 conda had found a stone of inestimable value, and, according to 

 his usual practice, when in such luck, was playing at cup and ball 

 with it. They could see the gorgeous gem, sparkling with light, 

 tossed into the air ; and the serpent bounding from the earth, as 

 he caught it in his mouth, or rapidly twining among the trees, as 

 with wild glee, he pursued his game. 



I sometimes visited a place so secluded and difficult of access, 

 that probably no human feet had ever reached it. There the 

 enormous vampire bat, or flying fox, slept away the hours of day- 

 hght ; and hanging to the boughs by his hooked claws, with his 

 head downward and his wings folded like a cloak about him, 

 waited till night should enable him to look for the plantain, his 

 accustomed food. There thousands of the animals congregated, 

 and when disturbed by the report of a gun, rose with screams, 

 darkening the air with their heavy flight, and encircling the 

 woods they dared not leave. Little was required to invest a spot 

 like this with mystery ; and well might the islander fancy, as 

 the black wings flapped like evil spirits around him, that he stood 

 on unhallowed ground. 



At the time of our expedition against the alligator, the periodi- 

 cal visitation of locusts, which occurs about once in seven years, 

 was devastating parts of the island ; and, on the following day, 

 the place where I resided was doomed to share in the distress. 



