178 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



on to an Indian village, where they had some 

 business, and on their return, about four 

 o'clock in the evening, stopped once more at 

 the notched trees. 



Dismounting, they proceeded cautiously 

 towards the spot where the unequal contest 

 had been going on in the morning, and nearly 

 upon the same spot, extended straight on the 

 ground, was the porpoise-looking brute, with 

 one of the small horns of the roebuck pro- 

 truding from one corner of his mouth, and 

 the other seeming as if it would perforate the 

 neck every instant : the tail was still coiled 

 round a small tree, though not the same as in 

 the morning, and the centre of his body looked 

 like a nine-gallon cask. " Stand clear of the 

 tail," said the Indian, and a few blows from 

 their sharp machetes soon finished him : he 

 was perfectly powerless ; tried to throw up 

 the deer, but could not, and made no resist- 

 ance. When stretched out he measured six 

 good paces. 



The smaller kinds of boa may be met with 

 constantly : they prey on rabbits, lizards, 

 and other small animals, and also climb trees 

 in search of birds' nests, and soon empty 

 them of their contents. 



The black snake is the next in size and 



