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on the dangers, to which they are exposed. They 

 have marked the manners of the crocodile, as the 

 torero has studied the manners of the bull. They 

 have learned to judge previously, in some sort, of 

 the movements of the animal, it's means of at- 

 tack, and the degree of it's boldness. When 

 they are assailed, they put in practice with that 

 presence of mind, and that resignation, which 

 characterizes the Indians, the Zamboes, and cop- 

 per-coloured men in general, the counsels they 

 have heard from their infancy. In countries 

 where nature is so powerful and so terrible, man 

 is constantly prepared for danger. We have 

 mentioned above the answer of t he young Indian 

 girl, who delivered herself from the jaws of the 

 crocodile. " I knew he would let me go, if I 

 thrust my fingers into his eyes." This girl be r 

 longed to the indigent class of the people, in 

 whom the habits of physical want augment the 

 energy of the character ; but how can we 

 avoid being surprised, to observe in the coun- 

 tries, convulsed by terrible earthquakes, on 

 the table-land of the province of Quito, women 

 belonging to the highest classes of society dis- 

 play in the moment of peril the same calm, the 

 same reflecting intrepidity ? I shall mention 

 one example only in support of this assertion. 

 On the 4th of February, 1797, when 35,000 

 Indians perished in the space of a few minutes, 

 a young mother saved herself and her children^ 



