onths, but at
the end of that time he came and told me that the monster had seized
a horse, and had dragged it into the river to devour at leisure. I
immediately repaired to the spot, accompanied by my guards, and by my
priest, who positively would see a cayman hunt, and by an American
friend of mine, Mr. Russell, [22] who was then staying with me. I
had the nets spread at intervals, so that the cayman could not escape
back into the lake. This operation was not effected without some acts
of imprudence; thus, for instance, when the nets were arranged, an
Indian dived to make sure that they were at the bottom, and that our
enemy could not escape by passing below them. But it might very well
have happened that the cayman was in the interval between the nets,
and so have gobbled up my Indian. Fortunately everything passed off
as we wished. When all was ready, I launched three pirogues, strongly
fastened together, side by side, with some Indians in the centre,
armed with lances, and with long bamboos, with which they could touch
the bottom. At last, all measures having been taken to attain my end,
without risk of accident, my Indians began to explore the river with
their long bamboos.

An animal so formidable in size as the one we were in search of,
could not hide himself very easily, and soon we beheld him on the
surface of the river, lashing the water with his long tail, snapping
and clattering with his jaws, and endeavouring to get at those
who disturbed him in his retreat. A universal shout of joy greeted
his appearance; the Indians in the pirogues hurled their lances at
him, whilst we, upon either shore of the lake, fired a volley. The
bullets rebounded from the monster's scales, which they were unable
to penetrate; the keener lances made their way between the scales,
and entered into the cayman's body some eight or ten inches. Thereupon
he disappeared, swimming with incredible rapidity, and reached the
first net. The resistance it opposed turned him back; he re-ascended
the river, and again appeared on the top of the water. This violent
movement, broke the staves of the lances which the Indians had stuck
into him, and the iron alone remained in the wounds. Each time that
he appeared the firing recommenced, and fresh lances were plunged
into his enormous body. Perceiving, however, how ineffectual firearms
were to pierce his cuirass of invulnerable scales, I excited him by
my shouts and gestures, and when he came to the