TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENOES. 227 



They possess the pcculinrity to 

 convoy electric shocks when touch- 

 •ed and will kill fish as well as they 

 become dangerous to animals and 

 man. Humboldt and Bonplant in- 

 tended to make oxpoiiments in the 

 huts of the natives, but, owing to 

 the exaggerated fear of the latter 

 of the electric shock of these cols, 

 it was impossible for three days 

 to get one single specimen. At 

 last they succeeded in getting one 

 iiving but very much exhausted 



a large cavallada of wild horses 

 and jacks succeeded in forcing 

 this cavallada into the stagnant 

 swamp, Humboldt and his friend 

 could conceive the practicability 

 of the Indians 'fishing with hor- 

 ses.' The stamping and alarm of 

 wild horses and jacks brought the 

 eels out of their mud holes and 

 swampy haunts and irritated them 

 to attack the animals. They swam 

 under and on the surface of the 

 muddy water and forced theni- 



Indians Catching Eel With Wild Horses 

 (Photo Reproduced by Writer from Klencke's Works) 



specimen which, however, gave 

 very unsatisfactoiy I'esults. Hum- 

 boldt therefore, concluded to take 

 the risk and hunt such eels. In 

 company with his companion. 

 Bouplant, he induced several 

 native Indians to visit a swampy 

 enclosure oi' tank near the village 

 of Rastro d'Aliaxo, which was sur- 

 rounded with huge trees and frag- 

 rant flowers. The Indians at once 

 concluded to catch the eels with 

 horses and only after the leader of 



selves under the belly of the hor- 

 ses and jacks. An unusual sight 

 now began. The Indians, all pro- 

 vided with harpoons and long, 

 thin bamboo canes and spears, 

 surrounded the swampy enclo- 

 sure, and some ascended a nearby 

 tree, the branches of which hung 

 over the water's surface. With 

 wild, loud voices and gesticula- 

 lions and dancing around, with 

 the use of tjieir long weapons, they 

 hindered the animals from com- 



