HUNTING AND FISHING IN THE PltOVINCE OF AMAZON. 
101 
moved slowly, almost torpidly, tlu'ougli tbe tliiek element. Some dozens 
of black vidtures (nrubus) looked sharply and anxiously at us aud at the 
foul pond, their richly-laden table, the while sitting rigid aud motionless 
ou the neigliboiuing rocks with their wide wings opened to the evening 
breeze, probably to air their leathers. They reminded us, in their im- 
mobility, of the bronze eagles on the crown of some old tower. In 
spite of the sickening aspect, we had the greatest diffieidty to prevent our 
Indians from harj)ooiiing the half-dead fish and making themselves 
seriously ill with this nauseating food, although they had, with but little 
trouble, sueeeedcd in taking a large quantity of wholesome fish below the 
tall, in the bays and creeks of the shores, and at the mouth of a small 
rivulet. 
We were taken with the strange shape of the rays,” whoso broad 
wings and projecting eyes are to be mot, it is usually supposed, in salt 
water only. We caught some specimens that measm-ed more than three 
feet fr’om the extremity of the Iw'ad to the tail, which is armed with a 
horny sting, of a finger’s length. These rays were of a greyish brown, 
with black spots encircling a )mllow point. They are much feared by the 
Indians, for their sling, w'hich is indeed well calculated, Avith its double 
edge aud finely dentated point, to inflict excrueiating Avounds on the bare 
loot of some bather, AA"ho may incautiously trample upon the creature, as 
it lies lurking for spoil half-buried in the mud of the shaUoAV banks. 
The annexed sketch represents one of our paddlers returning from a 
fishing excursion, and carrying, besides a ray and a large surubim, another 
smaller fish, AAhose sharp curved teeth have gi\mn it the name of peixe 
cachorro (dog-fish). It is not so dangerous to man as the rays or the 
piranhas,* broad fishes of little more than a span’s length, which have 
literally torn to pieces many a daring swimmer. Their two rows of 
projecting teeth, Avhich are sharp as needles, arc the more to be dreaded, 
as the terrible creatures are almost ahvays together in hundreds, and they 
throw themselves upon their Auctira with the rapidity of lightning, as soon 
as the water has been dyed Avith the blood of the fli-st bite, each indi\ddual 
one of the dreadful snapping little jaAVS tearing off a piece of flesh. 
Without any doubt these piranhas arc a much greater obstacle to 
bathing than the jacares (crocodiles), Avhosc Auctims are far less numerous 
than is generally believed. 
Another dangerous animal, though in a difibrent way, is the candirii, 
* From pirii; fish, and anlia, tootli. 
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