274 Mr Maxwell’s Observations 
Seebisee . — Upon the low islands in the river, a small animal 
resembling a rat, but much larger, is found. It has two long 
cutting teeth before, and is covered with bristles like those of a 
hedge-hog. It burrows in the sandy soil. The natives, who call 
it Seebisee, and the French, esteem its flesh a great delicacy. 
Unfortunately, however, we recollect, that Frenchmen pay the 
same encomiums on rats and frogs. Nay, they go further, for 
I have frequently seen Carrion exposed to sale in the country 
markets of Brittany. 
Bats .— There is a large species of bat, measuring thirty-four 
inches between the wings, when extended, and ten inches from 
the nose to the tail. It harbours about the Palmetto trees, and 
lives upon the fruit, which is about the size of a large Orange, 
but not eaten by the natives. I have seen some hundreds of 
these bats fly out from a single tree ; and, when on the wing, 
they appear as large as Crows. They are very fierce and vicious 
when wounded. 
Frogs . — During the night, the banks of the Congo, in the 
neighbourhood of Embomma, are perfectly alive with innumer- 
able numbers of Frogs, and other noisy reptiles, which keep up 
an incessant croaking until morning. They are, I suppose, 
wdiat is called the Bull Frog. 
Boa Constrictor . — Once when lying in the river, and hearing 
an unusual noise overhead, I hastened upon deck. The natives, 
of whom a number were on board, were calling out Bomma ! 
Bomma ! Those on shore were running from the landing-place 
in the greatest terror. The cause of this alarm explained itself. 
A large Snake was floating close past the vessel. It was a Boa 
Constrictor. I immediately manned the yawl, and went in 
pursuit, foolishly thinking that if I could but fix a harpoon in- 
to it, the force of the current would prevent its boarding the 
boat. Imagining it to be asleep, I approached slowly, to have 
an opportunity of striking it to the best advantage, but soon dis- 
covered that it w r as dead. I hooked it with the harpoon, and drew 
it alongside ; but w T hen on deck, the stench was so intolerable, that 
we were obliged to throw it overboard. It was quite flaccid ; 
and, although the entrails were out, the diameter of the body in 
that state w^as nine inches. The extremities had been cut off, 
and only fourteen feet of the trunk left ; but as this part ta- 
