166 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



Atlantic, the alligator is much larger than 

 on the Pacific side, that is to say, in Central 

 America ; for further south, in the Guayaquil 

 river, they attain a monstrous size ; but on 

 the western shore they grow in the large 

 rivers to a very great length, and when the 

 waters are high, and travellers can scarcely 

 get their horses across the fords, it is pitiable, 

 the fright the poor dogs are in, as they well 

 know their danger.* 



Alluding to lassoing one of these monsters 

 round the neck recalls an anecdote to the 

 point. 



There was an alligator, who had taken up 

 his abode near a ford, had given a dusky 

 acquaintance of mine a great deal of vex- 

 ation, and had occasioned him much loss by 

 pulling into the water calves, and even cattle, 

 that came to drink. He told me that one 

 day, being on horseback, he caught the alli- 

 gator in shallow water, a good way from his 

 accustomed pool, and having his lasso with 

 him, but attached to the pummel of his sad- 

 dle, he galloped after him, as he was making 

 for his haunt, and lassoed him round the 

 neck, and tried to drag him to a tree on the 



* Dogs are often pulled down while swimming close 

 alongside of their masters. 



