east seemed
as much alarmed as I was, and after staring at me for a few moments,
turned slowly about, and began to creep away, like a frightened cat,
with his belly close to the ground; then, gradually quickening his
pace, fled with precipitation into a distant part of the wood. It was
some time before I recovered presence of mind sufficient to trace back
my steps towards the beach, for I felt my very heart tremble within me.
As I approached the water, there was a piece of jungle, or low thicket
before me, and I was turning to the left, to pass round by the side
opposite the boat, thinking that I might yet find some game, when,
seeing the men labouring hard to drag the tree they had felled, towards
the water, I altered my course, and went to their assistance. No sooner
had I entered the boat, than I discovered on that side of the jungle,
to which I was first going, close to the beach, a large kayman,
watching our motions, whom I should certainly have met, had I gone
round by the way I intended. Thankful as I now felt for this second
preservation of my life, I could not help discharging my piece at the
animal's head, and by the sudden plunge he made into the water, and the
appearance of blood on the surface, as he was swimming towards the
opposite shore, it seemed that one or both of the shots had penetrated
his eye or throat. We saw him reach the shore, and crawl through the
mud into the jungle.

Part of the flesh of the crocodile or kayman is good and wholesome,
when well cooked. It tastes somewhat like pork, for which I took it,
and ate it with much relish, when I first came to Nancanwery; till, on
inquiry, finding it to be the flesh of a beast so disgusting and
horrible in its appearance and habits, I felt a loathing, which I could
never overcome; but it is eaten by both natives and Europeans.

LETTER IV.

Since you have expressed satisfaction with my imperfect account of some
of the natural productions of the Nicobar islands, and desire me to
continue the subject, I regret that I cannot gratify you with a sight
of the lists I kept, of the different kinds of serpents, crabs,
spiders, and other creatures, which I caught everywhere, either to
stuff, put into spirits, or otherwise prepare for my customers. At our
garden near Tranquebar, I had a shop or work-room purposely constructed
for these operations, and kept sometimes two or three Malabar boys at
work to help me. Of serpents and snakes I had a list of u