CURIOUS DWELLERS OF SWAMP AND FOREST. 149 



of the jaguars was awful, but it was music to the dismal 

 noise of these hideous and malicious reptiles. About half 

 past five in the morning the Indian stole off silently to take 

 a look at the bait. On arriving at the place, he set up a 

 tremendous shout. We all jumped out of our 'hammocks 

 and ran to him. The Indians got there before me, for 

 they had no clothes to put on, and I lost two minutes in 

 looking for my trousers and in slipping into them. 



4. We found a cayman, ten and a half feet long, fast at 

 the end of the rope. Nothing now remained to do but to 

 get him out of the water without injuring his scales. We 

 mustered eight strong. I informed the Indians it was my 

 intention to draw him cpiietly 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, 

 they squatted on their hams with the most perfect indif- 

 ference. 



5. Daddy Quashi, my negro factotum, 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 worried. My Indian was now in con- 

 versation 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 unin- 

 jured, and not to carry back a mutilated specimen. I 

 rejected this proposition with firmness, and darted a dis- 

 dainful eye upon the Indians. 



6. Daddy Quashi was again beginning to remonstrate, 

 and I chased him on the sand-bank for a epiarter of a mile. 

 He told me afterward he thought he should have dropped 

 down dead with fright, for he was firmly persuaded, if I 

 had caught him, I should have bundled him into the cay- 



