The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-11-03
Terrible Fight with Monster Lizard.


The great country lying south of Mex
leo is rich in tropical verdure and ami
mails. Winter is never known except
in the cold winds called northers, that,
during the so-called winter, come rush
ing down from the north, as il to tell
the natives that it is not continual sum-
mer everywhere.
The land flows with milk and honey,
indeed; rich palms and other tropical
trees grow in rich confusion; punches
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 a
Jungle that few care to penetrate. For
miles the land is covered with this car
pet of vegetation, and the swamps and
rivers are inhabited only by strange
reptiles, birds and insects who prey
upon one another in their struggle for
existence.
The birds are the most beautiful in
the world, and many of the insects have
curious lights upon their backs that
shine like gas-burners in the night. His
tory tells us that when the Spaniards
first saw them, they became alarmed,
and thought they were the lights of u
moving army. P isonous snakes lurk
under the broad leaves, and hugh lizards
creep upon the overhanging boughs of
trees.
One of these lizard-the iguana--is n
hideous-looking objesct. The largest
attain length of ten or twelve feet; the
skin is very tight, and covered with
knobs or scales; under the mouth hangs
a large pouch. over which the green,
diamond-like eyes appear, shaded by a
ridge of bone. Along the back, from
the tip of the nose to the tail, is con-
tinuous line of spurs or sharp spines;
these, with powerful mouth, hVe
sharp teeth, long, cat-ike claws and
enormous, strength to use them. constl-
tutes the makeup of this giant among
lizards. Disgusting as they are, the
natives use them for food.
Near the head Of the river Chagres is
favorite place for them; very few
white people ever venture there, and
the first who did was witness to ter
rible fight between a native and a
lizard.
| The man had been engaged as 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 fallen tree. His
COMPANION looked, and soon saw an
guana's head peeping over the edge OF a
og that led into the river. His body
was concealed, and he was evidently
taking a siesta over the cool water.
The guide laid down his gun, and,
taking a club, crept cautiously to him,
and, aiming a blow, brought the club
down on the lizard (P) No, indeed; the
creature was too quick for him; but IN
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 a moment the splashing anC
sprav hid them from view. A moment
more and Quito's head came to the sur
face and the tail of the iguana, thrash
ing the water in fierce way, and nov
they were out of sight again.
It was evident Quito had no idea The
lizard was so large, tor when they came
IN again he was engaged in fierce
struggle, the water being dyed witt
| blood, from which of them the whit
man, who was waiting for chance Il
shoot, could not tell. At last, creepin!
out on the log, and looking down int
the water, he beheld fearful sight
The lizard. perfect monster OF abou
. twelve feet in length, had fastened 1T
claws into poor Quito, and was writh
| Ing duu LeaLAuS hlLh An % 'NAAA'AN A''AA
ner.
The plucky negro had caught him b.
the tail and throat, and was trying Il
e hold him off. 1t seemed only a matte
i of time who should drown first, whel
i Quito struck bottom, and, giving him
= self q push, he rose to the surface again
4 still holding the lizard at arms-length
AS il came to the surface it buried il
e five knife-like claws in the mans facC
D Sitting it in terrible manner; but eve
J then he held on with the tenacity OF
o bulldog. The observer on the ban
3 crept out now as far as he could upo
the log and called to Quito to cate
/ the stick he held out, and he would pu
y him in.
q After several trials he managed
q reach it, and still holding the strugglr
ls monster, was hauled, bleeding and Gu
II ashore, where, with terrible bio
from the gun the reptile was kil!e'
y Quito was so weak from his exertiol
q and loss of blood that he could n
Il move. The creature had bitten III
n several times and scarcely spot on h
W BODY but had received cut like that
As a knife, telling the power OF the terrih
10 claws.
al The monster was dragged to the cam
y its skin taken off, and after Quito's
"a covery. and they had gone down to {
IN coast, it was stuffed, and now ador
the collection of a well-known scie
tS tific institution.
n, Words of encouragement.
tn Never be cast down by trifles. II
nd spider breaks his web twenty tim
li9 | Asvov,ev t;v,,oo xui1 ba mand IL Make