SOUTH AMERICA. 



231 



They pulled again, and out he came, — " monstmm, hor- Third 



Journey. 



rendum, informe." This was an interesting moment. I 



kept my position firmly, with my eye fixed steadfast on 

 him. 



By the time the Cayman was within two yards of me, 

 I saw he was in a state of fear and perturbation ; I 

 instantly dropped the mast, sprung up, and jumped on 

 his back, turning half round as I vaulted, so that I gained 

 my seat with my face in a right position. I immediately 

 seized his fore legs, and, by main force, twisted them on 

 his back ; thus they served me for a l^ridle. 



He now seemed to have recovered from his surprise, 

 and probably fancying himself in hostile company, he . 

 began to plunge furiously, and lashed the sand with his 

 long and powerful tail. I was out of reach of the strokes 

 of it, by being near his head. He continued to plunge 

 and strike, and made my seat very uncomfortable. It 

 must have been a fine sight for an unoccupied spectator. 



The people roared out in triumph, and were so vocife- 

 rous, that it was some time before they heard me tell them 

 to pull me and my beast of burden farther in land. I 

 was apprehensive the rope might break, and then there 

 would have been every chance of going down to the 

 regions under water with the Cayman. That would have 

 been more perilous than Arion's marine morning ride : — 



" Delphini insidens vada caerula sulcat Arion." 



The people now dragged us above forty yards on the 



