1851.] 
SKINNING AN ALLIGATOR. 
319 
was very nearly six feet long, and the scales of the belly 
could only be cut by heavy blows with a hammer on a 
large knife. It was caught with a line, to which was 
1 attached, by the middle, a short strong pointed stick 
baited with fish ; when swallowed, the stick remains 
firmly fixed across the stomach of the animal. The flesh 
has a very strong but rather agreeable odour, like guavas 
or some musky fruit, and is much esteemed by Indians 
i and many whites ; but it requires t^ be young, fat, and 
well dressed, to form, in my opinion, a palatable meal. 
!: I had plenty of work the next day, cleaning the head 
I and limbs, and these furnished a supply of meat for my 
j Indians’ supper. 
j I called at the sitio of Senhor Chagas, whom I had met 
t at Guia, and from him I again received the most posi- 
I tive information of the existence, on the river Uaupes, 
of a white umbrella-bird, having himself seen a speci- 
I men, which one of his Indians had killed. 
! On the 6th I reached the sitio of Senhor Joao Cor- 
^ deiro, the Subdelegarde, where I stopped to breakfast ; 
I and arranged with him to remain a few days at his 
i house, on my return voyage, in order to skin and pre- 
■ pare the skeleton of a peixe hoi, which he promised to 
I procure for me, as they are very abundant in the river 
I Urubaxi, which enters the Rio Negro just above his 
I house, and where he, every year, takes great numbers 
i with the net and harpoon. At breakfast we had some 
I of the meat, — preserved, by being boiled or fried in its 
i own oil ; it is then put into large pots, and will keep 
I many months. On taking my leave, he sent me a plate 
of the meat, and some sausages for my voyage. 
i 
I 
