TRAVELLERS ATTACKED BY A ZAMBO. 121 
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 
Orinoco and Rio Negro, preparations of various kinds 
were necessary ; and the astronomical determination 
of places being the most important object of this un- 
dertaking, it was of essential advantage to observe 
an eclipse of the sun which was to happen in the 
end of October. 
On the 27th, the day before the obscuration, 
they went out in the evening, as usual, to take the 
air. Crossing the beach which separates the suburb 
of the Guayquerias from the landing-place, they 
heard the sound of footsteps behind, 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 Bon- 
7 pland 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, who had run off with 
one of their hats, and on being seized, drew a 
long knife from his trousers. In the mean time 
