35° 



it is impoffible at once to deprive him of ani- 

 mation ; for however cut, beaten or torn, ftill 

 figns of vitality remain for a confiderable time. 

 It is only with extreme difficulty that he is 

 conquered In the firft inftance,and — even when 

 fubdued — to kill him is ftill a tafk. Unlefs 

 at certain parts, a mufquet ball will not pene- 

 trate his {kin, and a ftrong blow fcarcely does 

 him any injury. If cut, or torn in pieces, and 

 left to appearance dead, he, for a long time af- 

 ter, exhibits marks of vitality upon being 

 touched. 



The one we deftroyed was firft (hot in 

 the head, but he was ftill a mod dangerous 

 and a&ive enemy, and had nearly feized one 

 of the negroes by the leg. Notwithftanding 

 his being fhot, he remained unfubdued until 

 he had received many fevere blows behind the 

 neck ; and for long after this he ftruck very 

 powerfully with his tail. Further attempts were 

 made to kill him, but, as late as two hours 

 from the time he was conquered, he prefled 

 my hand with confiderable force, on taking 

 hold of his claw ; for feveral hours longer, he 

 continued to fhew figns of life, and it was even 

 difficult to mark the momentwhen it became ex- 



