Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-11-24
Terrible Fight with a Monster Lizard.

The great country wing south of Mex
leo is rich in tropical verdure and animals
Winter is never known except in the cold
winds called northers, that, during the So
called winter, come rushing down from
the north, AS if to tell the natives that it
is not continual summer everywhere.
The land flows with milk and honey,
indeed; rich palms and other tropical
trees grow in rich confusion; lunches of
bananas and cOcOanuts await the hand to
PICK them; thick underbrush of tangled
vines, wound around each other in the
growth of ages, forms Jungle that few
care to penetrate. For miles the land is
covered with this carpet of vegetation
and the swamps and rivers are inhabited
only by strange reptiles, and birds and
insects who prey upon each other in this
struggle for existence.
The birds are the most beautiful in the
world. and many of the insects have Gu.
rious lights upon their backs that shine
like gas burners in the night History
tells US that when the Sianiards first saw
them, they became alarmed, and thought
they were the lights of II moving army.
| Poisonous snakes lurk under the broad
leaves, and huge lizards creep upon the
overhanging boughs of the trees.
One of the lztrds-the iguana-is Il
hideous-looking object. The largest at
tain IL length of ten or twelve feet; the
skin is very light, and covered with knobs
or scales under the mouth hangs large
pouch, over which the green diamond-llke
eyes appear. shaded by II ridge of bone
Along the back, from the tip of the nose
to the tail, is II continuous line of spurs or
sharp spines; these, with a powerful
mouth, five sharp teeth, long cat.like
claws, and enormous strength to use them,
among lizards. Disgusting as they are,
the natives use them for food.
Near the head of the river Chagres is a
favorite place for them: very few white
people ever venture there, and the first
who did was witness to II terrible fight
between native and lizard.
The man had been engaged rs a guide,
and, after successful days hunt, they
were returning to their camp near the
river, when the black man stopped sud-
denly and pointed to a fallen tree His
companion looked and soon saw guana's
head peeping over the edge of log that
led into the river. His body was con
cealed, and he was evidently taking
siesta over the cool water.
The guide laid down his gun, and,
taking a club, crept cautiously to him, and
aiming blow, brought the club down on
the lizard (P) No, indeed; the creature
was too quick for him; but in its fright it
missed its footing and fell into the water.
Without thinking, Quito-for such was
the Indians name-sprang after it, and
the two together sank out of sight, and
for moment the splashing and spray hid
them from view. A moment more and
Quitoe's head came to the surface and the
tail of the iguana, thrashed the water in
II fierce way, and now they were out of
sight again.
1t was evident Quito had no idea the
lizard was 50 large, for when they came
up again he was engaged in fierce strug.
gle, the water heing dyed with blood,
from which of them the white man, who
was waiting for chance to shoot, could
not tell. At last, creeping on the log,
and looking into the water, he beheld a
fearful sight. The lizard perfect mon
ster of about twelve feet in length, had
fastened its claws into poor Quito, and
was writhing and tearing him in terri
BILE manner.
The plucky negro hal caught him by
the tail and throat and was trying to hold
him off. 1t seemed on y a matter of time
who should drown first, when Quito
struck bottom, and giving himselfa push,
he rose to the surface again, still holding
the lzerd at arms length.
AS it came to the surface it buried its
knife like claws in the mans face, Sitting
it in a terrible manner; but even then he
held on with the tenacty of bulldog.
The observer on the bank crept out now
as far as he could upon the log and called
to Quito to catch the stick he he held out,
and he would pull him in.
After several trials he managed to
reach it. and still holding the struggling
montser, was hauled, bleeding and cut
ashore, where, with terrible blow from
the gun the reptile was killed. Quito was
so weak from his exertions and loss of
blood that he could not move. The crea-
ture had bitten him several times, and
scarcely spot on bis body but haG
received cut like that of II knife, telling
the power of the terrible claws.
The monster was dragged to the camp.
its skin taken off, and after Quto's
recovery, and they had gone down TO the
coast it was stuffed. and now adorns the
collection of well-known scientific in.
stitution.