156 
WANDERINGS IN 
THIRD 
JOURNEY 
The 
two-toed 
Sloth. 
secondly, they have described him in a situation in 
which he was never intended by nature to cut a 
figure; I mean on the ground. The sloth is as much 
at a loss to proceed on his journey upon a smooth 
and level floor, as a man would be who had to walk 
a mile in stilts upon a line of feather beds. 
One day, as we were crossing the Essequibo, I 
saw a large two-toed sloth on the ground upon the 
bank; how he had got there nobody could tell: the 
Indian said he had never surprised a sloth in such 
a situation before: he would hardly have come there 
to drink, for both above and below the place, the 
branches of the trees touched the w r ater, and afforded 
him an easy and safe access to it. Be this as it may, 
though the trees were not above twenty yards from 
him, he could not make his way through the sand 
time enough to escape before we landed. As soon 
as we got up to him he threw himself upon his back, 
and defended himself in gallant style with his fore¬ 
legs. u Come, poor fellow,” said I to him, u if thou 
hast got into a hobble to-day, thou slialt not suffer 
for it: I’ll take no advantage of thee in misfortune; 
the forest is large enough both for thee and me to 
rove in: go thy ways up above, and enjoy thyself 
in these endless wilds; it is more than probable thou 
wilt never have another interview with man. So 
fare thee well.” On saying this, I took a long stick 
which was lying there, held it for him to hook on, 
and then conveyed him to a high and stately mora. 
He ascended with wonderful rapidity, and in about 
a minute he was almost at the top of the tree. He 
