ALLIGATORS. 97 



informed by our patron that we could not 

 reach any village that night, and must con- 

 sequently sleep on the beach, which was by 

 no means agreeable intelligence, as the alli- 

 gators were in great numbers. Mr. Bray 

 and myself, however, landed our beds and 

 put them up a little to windward of a good 

 fire. The bogas returned to the champan, 

 and we soon fell asleep, notwithstanding the 

 vicinity of the alligators. The wind was 

 at this time blowing strong, which prevented 

 any miisquitoes showing themselves. About 

 half past ten, I was awakened by a great 

 noise, which proved to be caused by an alliga- 

 tor going into the water about twenty yards 

 from the spot where we slept. Our fire had 

 burnt out and the wind was lulled; the mus- 

 quitoes had consequently made their appear- 

 ance, which obliged us to rise and dust them 

 out from under our toldos, and to secure the 

 toldos in such a manner, by tucking them 

 under the beds on which we slept, that 



VOL. I. H 



