SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, 5CC. 233 



The laubba is an animal peculiar to this part of the world, 

 is about the size of a large cat, and is covered by fine brown 

 hair, with round white spots ; the hair under the belly is 

 white, the body is round and thick, the head is like that of a 

 pug dog; the eyes and ears are small, the neck is short, it has 

 no tail, and little feet. The laubba is an amphibious ani- 

 mal, and feeds upon herbs and grain. When pursued, it will 

 swim a long time at a short distance from the surface of the 

 water, so that it is often shot under water with arrows. The 

 flesh is very delicate, and is much admired, tasting something 

 like pork. 



Alligators are frequently seen in the rivers near the sea. 

 Their length, when full grown, is about twenty feet, and 

 their shape much like the common lizard. They are a harm- 

 less, but not a pleasing animal. The upper part of the tail 

 has a sharp edge, which is gapped like a saw. Over the eye 

 is a protuberance about the size of a large orange, which is 

 hard, and covered by a scaly coat. The skin of alligators 

 is so thick that a musket ball will not pierce it, except about 

 the head, where it is not so hard. At low water they will 

 come to lie in the mud and bask in the sun-shine, when their 

 young ones, about four feet in length, are often killed by the 

 natives. 



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