ALL 
The colour of the body was of a dark brown on 
the upper part, and of a whitifh citron below, v/irh 
large fpots of both theie colours on the fides. The 
fhoulders, to the very extremity of the tail, were 
covered with fifty-two large fquare fcales difpofed 
like parallel girdles ; but, towards the tail, the 
difcance between thefe circles increafed. The 
creature was not only covered with thefe, but alfo 
with a coat of armour; which, however, was not 
proof againft a mufquet-ball, as had been gene- 
rally believed : yet it muft be confeffed, that the 
attitude* in which the animal was placed might 
contribute to render it more vulnerable; for, pro- 
bably, had the ball ftruck obliquely againft the 
lliell, it would have turned off. Thofe parts of the 
girdles which were beneath the belly had a whitifh 
hue, and were compofed of fcales of various 
fliapes, but not fo hard as thofe on the back. 
With regard to the internal conformation of the 
animal, the gullet was large in proportion to the 
mouth; and a ball of v/ood as large as a man's 
head was paffed up and down v/ith facility. The 
guts were comparatively Ihort, not being fo long 
as the creature's body. The tongue, which fome 
naturalifts have falfely alTerted this animal was not 
pofTelTedof, confifted of a thick, fpongy, foft flefh, 
ftrongly connefted v/ith the inferior jaw. The 
heart was about the fize of a calf's, and of a bright 
red colour, the blood paffing as well through the 
veins to the aorta as into the lungs. There was 
no bladder; but the kidneys were furnilhed with 
a du£l to the anus, by which the urine was dif- 
charged. The back-bone was compofed of fixty- 
two joints; which, though very clofely united, 
had fufficient play to enable the animal to bend 
like a bow to the right and left; fo that what 
v/e have been told of efcaping the creature's vora- 
cious jaws, by declining from the right line, and 
of the animal's not being able to wheel about rea- 
dily after it's prey, feems to be entirely fabulous. 
On the contrary, it is probable, that the Alligator 
can-turn with the utmoft facility; for the joints of 
it's back are not lefs pliant than thofe of other ani- 
mals, which we know, by experience, can v/heel 
about very nimbly when they pleafe. 
Such is the genuine account of the figure and 
conformation of this dreaded animal, which depo- 
pulates countries, and renders the moft beautiful 
rivers dangerous, and even deferred. It has been 
feen in fome places for hours, and even days, bafk- 
ing in the fun, and apparently motionlefs ; fo that 
the unwary traveller might eafily miftake it for the 
trunk of a tree covered with a rough and dry bark : 
but this miftake would probably be attended 
with the moft fatal confequences, if not timely 
difcovered; for the feemingly torpid animal, on 
the near approach of any living creature, inftantly 
darts on it with inconceivable fwiftnefs, and 
precipitates it to the bottom of the liver. During 
inundations, this unwelcome vifitant fometimes 
enters a cottage, and feizes the firft animal it fees ; 
nor are inftances very unfrequent of it's having 
dragged a man out of a canoe, in the view of his 
companions, who vainly exerted their endeavours 
to fave him. 
The Alligator is prodigioufly ftrong ; and it's 
arms, both oftenfive and defenfive, are entirely ir- 
refiftible. The fhortnefs of it's legs; the confor- 
mation of the back-bone; the mufcles of the fore 
and hinder legs ; and, in fliort, it's whole frame ; are 
calculated for amazing force. It's teeth are fharp, 
numerous, and formidable; it's claws are long, 
ALL 
and tenacious ; but it's principal inftrument of de- 
ftru6tion is it's tail, with a fingle blov/ of which it 
is capable of overturning a common canoe. It's 
proper element is the water, and there it is by 
far the moft deftruftive ; neverthelefs, it is likev/ife 
veiy terrible by land : it feldom, however, unlefs 
when preffed by hunger, or v/ith a view of depofit- 
ing it's eggs, quits it's native element. It ufually 
floats along the furface, and feizes whatever animals 
come within it's reach; but, this method failing, it 
is then compelled to venture near the fliore, where 
it conceals itfelf among the fedges, in expedtation 
of fome land animal, the dog, the 'null, the tiger, or 
even man himl'elf, coming to drink. As the devoted 
viftim approaches, nothing of the infidious de- 
ftroyer is to be feen ; nor is the retreat of the fonner 
often meditated till it is too late. The voracious ani- 
mal inftantly fprings on it's prey, with much more 
agility than might reafonably be expe6led from 
fuch an unwieldy creature; and, having fecured it 
with it's teeth and claws, inftantly plunges into the 
water, and drags it to the bottom, where it is de- 
voured at it's leifure. Sometimes, however, the 
animal which the Alligator has tluis furprized 
and feized, efcapes from it's grafp in a wounded 
ftate : in that cafe the tyrant purfues it v/ith all it's 
might, and often feizes it a fecond time ; for, 
though heavy to external appearance, the Alligator 
runs with amazing celerity. It often ventures 
half a mile from the bank of the river; and, having 
regained it's prey, returns with it to the river-fide, 
where it feafts in perfe6l fecurity. 
In it's depredations along the banks, it fome- 
times happens that the Alligator feizes on an ani- 
mal as formidable as itfelf, and meets with a defpe- 
rate refiftance. The tiger and the Alligator, in oar- 
ticular, have frequent contefts. A parching thirft, 
with whicli all animals of the tiger kind are conti- 
nually aftefted, keeps them in the vicinity of great 
rivers, whither they very frequently defcend to 
drink. On thefe occafions they fometimes meet 
with the Alligator; and, the inftant they findthem- 
felves affaulted, they turn about with prodigious 
agility, and force their claws into the eyes of tlie 
aflailant, who immediately plunges with it's fierce 
antagonift into the river, where the ftruggle con- 
tinues till the tiger fubmits to a watery death. 
In this manner the Alligator feizes and deftroys 
all animals, and is therefore equally dreaded by all. 
Man alone, who can unite reafon with ftrencrth, 
feems capable of com.bating this animal with fuc- 
cefs. Labat afllires us, that a negro, v/ith no 
other weapon than a knife in his right-hand, and 
a cow's hide wrapped round his left, will boldly 
venture to attack this animal, even in it's own ele- 
ment. V/henever he approaches the Aulligator, 
he prefents his left-arm with it's contents, which 
the animal greedily attempts to fwallow; but the 
hide fticking in it's throat, the negro takes that op- 
portunity of giving it feveral ftabs under the 
lower-jaw with his knife ; and the water rufliing 
in at it's mouth, which is held open involuntarily, 
the creature is foon fwelled to fuch an enormous 
fize, that it's animal fundions are entirely fu- 
fpended. 
In Siarn, Alligators, or crocodiles, (which terms 
may be ufedindifcriminately) are frequently caught 
by the natives. In that empire, where the largeft as 
well as moft formidable animals abound, the in- 
habitants feem particularly fond of fignalizing 
their bravery by deftroying them. They are ex- 
tremely fuccefsful in taming the elephant; nor are 
E they 
