705 



long time to disengage itself from the iron fixed 

 in the upper-jaw. There is little probability, 

 that a country, in which a labyrinth of rivers 

 without number brings every day new bands of 

 crocodiles from the eastern back of the Andes, by 

 the Meta and the Apure, toward the coast of 

 Spanish Guyana, should ever be delivered from 

 these reptiles. All that will be gained by civil- 

 ization will be, to render them more timid, and 

 more easily put to flight. 



Affecting instances are related of African 

 slaves, who have exposed their lives to save those 

 of their masters, who had fallen into the jaws of 

 a crocodile. A few years ago, between Uritucu 

 and the Mission de Abaxo *, a Negro, hearing 

 the cries of his master, flew to the spot armed 

 with a long knife (machette), and plunged into 

 the river. He forced the crocodile, by putting 

 out his eyes, to let go his prey, and hide himself 

 under the water. The slave bore his expiring 

 master to the shore ; but all succour was un- 

 availing to restore him to life. He died of suf- 

 focation, for his wounds were not deep. The 

 crocodile, like the dog, appears not to close it's 

 jaws firmly while swimming. It is almost super- 

 fluous to add, that the children of the deceased, 

 though poor, gave the slave his freedom. 



The inhabitants of the banks of the Oroonoko 

 and it's tributary streams discourse continually 



* In the Llanos of Calabozo. 

 VOL. V. 2 z 



