SOUTH AMERICA. 



225 



us naught ; a Cayman came and took it, but would not Third 



Journey. 



swallow it. 



Seeing it was useless to attend the shark-hook any 

 longer, we left it for the night, and returned to our 

 hammocks. 



Ere I fell asleep, a reflection or two broke in upon me. 

 I considered, that as far as the judgment of civilized man 

 went, every thing had been procured and done to ensure 

 success. We had hooks, and lines, and baits, and 

 patience ; we had spent nights in watching, had seen the 

 Cayman come and take the bait, and after our expect- 

 ations had been wound up to the highest pitch, all 

 ended in disappointment. Probably this poor wild man 

 of the woods would succeed by means of a very simple 

 process ; and thus prove to his more civilized brother, 

 that notwithstanding books and schools, there is a vast 

 deal of knowledge to be picked up at every step, which- 

 ever way we turn ourselves. 



In the morning, as usual, we found the bait gone from 

 the shark-hook. The Indians went into the forest to 

 hunt, and we took the canoe to shoot fish, and get 

 another supply of turtle's eggs, which we found in great 

 abundance on this large sand-bank. 



We went to the little shallow creek, and shot some 

 young Caymen, about two feet long. It was astonishing 

 to see what spite and rage these little things showed 

 when the arrow struck them ; they turned round and bit 

 it, and snapped at us when we went into the water to 



2 G 



