The Gecko or Wood-Slave. 
Öl 
killed in our own house alone, five rattlesnakes, and four ground-snakes, 
in addi{ion to a large number of Vipers: as a matter of fact, even the 
ditches and ramparts at the Fort could not protect the officers and men 
from these dangerous visitors. Dr. Bolby, who Avas one morning taking 
an article doAvn from a small stand, seized something icy-cold, and 
drawing back in terror, now noticed that a large Trigotioceplialus atrox 
had taken up its quarters there: the latter seemed to have been just as 
much frightened at the unexpected interruption as the doctor, because it 
tried to make its speediest esca^KJ into the neighbouring thatch which a 
powerful cut, however, rendered It impossible of doing. Were rattle- 
snakes less slow to act, no one, owing to their large numbers, would be 
able to live in the savannah. As the snake usually lies rolled up under 
the grass, and the rattling noise, produced Avhen in luiotion, is too insigni- 
ficant to be distinctly heard except on making its way over ground devoid 
of grass and bush, we were always forced to proceed w^ith the utmost 
caution. 
231. But still more loathsome Avere the numerous visits of the ugly 
and rejndsive Geckoes (Wood-slave of the Colonists), which «ince the 
beginning of the wet season gathered in really immense numbers on the 
walls, rafters, and in the roof itself. They were particularly Hentklac- 
tyJus nMhoiiin Cuv., and Phtti/dacfi/lus ilict;oriy.j; Dum. The Indians 
and mulattoes fight just as shy of these creatures, as they do of snakes, 
because tliey generally reckon tliem to be poisonous.* When, so they told 
us, such an animal falls from the ceiling or from the rafters of the roof on 
to the bare skin of a i)erson, the toe-webs that contain the poison (the 
sticky moisture exuding from them) become relaxed and pi-ess into the 
victim's flesh whence a swelling results that is speedily followed by 
death. This sn]>erstition is prevalent even amongst the Colonists, and 
the Wood-slave, like snakes and scorpions, is one of those animals 
that they are most afraid of. The adroitness and agility with which 
this creature can run up the walls, even along the smoother beams 
or rafters, Iwrders on tlie nmrvellous. Just as peculiar are its nodding 
head movements, wliich one particularly notices when sitting 
still. Hardly had we lighted our mjiserable lamp of an evening, 
than they would turn out to the not infrequent accompaniment of their 
unpleasantly audible notes, and start hunting for mosquitoes and other 
insects. The terrible accounts given us by the Indians had made the 
]uobably harmless creature hateful to us, and if now and again, when 
gatliored togetlier of an evening, such a visitor fell right in the middle of 
us down on to the table — an accident however that, owing to its 
unsociable habit did not too often hap])en, for it was ever snapping and 
hunting — tliis usually resulted in the immediate dispersal of the 
company: indeed, the loathsomeness we all felt for the ugly creature, 
never alloAved of us lying unclothed in our hammocks. With these ugly 
animals there also cropped up a number of toads (Biifo agua Daud.) 
which the rain, as if by magic, had brought into the house. While 
* The belief that the bite of the Gecko is poisonous is prevalent also in Peru, apcorfhog 
to von Tschudi. Reiseskizzen ans deTi .Tahreu 18.36 -42. von Tsclnidi Vol. T p. ,'',2(). 
