The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-29

Having encamped one evening, when
travelling in the interior, at place called
Onissaro. where allgators abound, the In
dams, in cleaning the game, left the entrslls
Of the animals on the sand beach. The
scent of them attracted an unusual number
Of alIigators to the spot. The moon shone
brightly, and they were seen moving under
water by the waves occasioned on the sur
face. The people having retired to rest,
was reading under my tent in the canoe, and
was soon convinced that these voracious
creatures were assembled in great numbers,
from the strong musk smell that was given
out from beneath the water. Presently one
came up close TO my canoe drawing his
breath, which, in the stiffness Of the night,
sounded terrific. | started on my couch,
and wishing to get peep at the creature,
drew aside the little curtain; but he had
sunk. A few minutes after, felt the canoe
moving, and, thinking that one of the ALI
gators had got into it, | grasped cutlasS
which was near me, and, seeing my cur
tain move, was Just about to give vio-
lent blow, when the thought flashed across
my mind, perhaps it is one Of the people; |
therefore asked, who is there p John,
was the answer What do you want p
see, said he, that there are "juhuru-
caimanu,'' that is, many allgators, around
you, and | am come to take care Of you.
Most thankful was for not having struck
the blow; and after recovering myself lit
tie, | tried to persuade the Indian to go and
lie down in his hammock, which he had
slung high under some trees; but he positive
ly refused. He sat down on bench before
the tent with a spear between his legs, and
there he remained till break Of day. After
the excitement was over, | fell sound asleep,
and when | awoke found the Indian still
sitting there. AIligators abound in the Up
per Essequibo, and more especially in the
creeks. have seen as many as ten AT one
time basking themselves in the sun, and
swimming on the water like logs Of wood.
They are afraid Of men and quite harmless,
provided they are left unmolested: but when
bereaved of their young they are very Zero
cious. Erie, who accompanied me, told
me that there he lost one of his people,
The Indians, in order to see the fish more
distinctly in the dark waters Of the creeks,
are accustomed to climb on the trees which
line their banks, from which they shoot them
when passing by. One Of his people, when
drawing the bow, slipped of the branch and
fell into the water, when an alligator bit
off his leg. He bled to death in few min
utes. At another place higher up the river,
Erie called my attention to an amusing in
cident which occurred to one Of his people.
Falling off the tree in the manner Just de-
scribed. he fell upon an alligator's back
The Indian no sooner perceived what had
happened, and felt that the creature was
moving under him, than he placed himself
in riding position and clasped his hands
round the alligator's body. He was now
dragged through the water across the creek,
where the creature climbed up through the
bush, by which the Indians back was much
lacerated; he returned to the creek, and
dragging him through, tried to cline upon
the opposite bank. This being rather steep,
he was slow in efecting it, and the Indian
observing this to be favorable moment to
make his escape, threw himself backward,
and, swimming across, saved his life. 1t
may be easily conceived that both the rider
and his horse were equally glad of getting
rid one of the other. "-Reu. J. II. Rer.
ndu's Missionary Ldbors in British Gui.
arl