Next
Dinesh

Dinesh club

Posted: 11 Jun 2022

Taken: 10 Jun 2022

2 favorites     1 comment    23 visits

Keywords

Image and Excerpt •
NATURALIST ON RIVER AMAZONS •
Henry Walter Bates •
Author •
PUBLISHED •
1863 •

Authorizations, license

Visible by: Everyone
All rights reserved
23 visits

Photo by Dinesh

TURTLE FISHING AND ADVENTURE WITH ALLIGATOR

Nouchetdu38, Erhard Bernstein have particularly liked this photo

Comments
 Dinesh
Dinesh club
The next morning we again beat the pool. Although we had proof of there being a great number of turtles yet remaining, we had very poor success. The old Indians told us it would be so, for the turtles were “ladino” (cunning), and would take no notice of the beating a second day. When the net was formed into a circle, and the men had jumped in, an alligator was found to be inclosed. No one was alarmed, the only fear expressed being that the imprisoned beast would tear the net. First one shouted, “I have touched its head;” the another “he has scratched my leg.” One of the men, a lanky Miranha, was thrown off hs balance, and the there was no end to the laughter and shouting. At last a youth of about fourteen years age, of my calling to him, from the bank, to do so, seized the reptile by the tail, and held him tightly until a little resistance being overcome, he was able to bring it ashore; the net was opened, and the boy slowly dragged the danger out but cowardly beast to land through the muddy water, a distance of about hundred yards. Meanwhile I had cut a strong pole from a tree, and as soon as the alligator was drawn to solid ground, gave him a smart rap with it on the crown of his head, which killed him instantly. It was good sized individual; th jaws being considerably more than afoot long, and fully capable of snapping a man’s leg in twain. The species was the large cayman, the Jacare-uassu of the Amazonian Indians (Jacare nigra). ~ Page 298

NATURALIST ON THE RIVER AMAZONS
23 months ago. Edited 23 months ago.

Sign-in to write a comment.