The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-02
ALONG THE ORINOCO.

At nine o'clock in the morning Of the
18th day Of September, in the year 1860,
the steam launch Naturalist began her
ascent of the Orinoco River. It was an
exploring expedition fitted out by Fed.
fol, the English naturalist and taxider-
mist, ard he had the full consent of The
Venezuelan authorities to navigate if
possible to the head waters of the stream.
Our party was composed of Mr.. Redfol,
an English sportsman named Grant, q
Scotch doctor and sportsman named
Nc onald, two young men named Ward
and Baker, who were assistants to the
naturalist an engineer, a fireman, q
cook, a steward, two deck hands and
myself. Twas taken to act as interpreter,
having passed several years on the coast
and in the interior. was also to assist
the professor in securing and caring for
specimens, and in helping to supply the
party with fresh meat.
The launch had been built in England
especially for tn 8 trip. She was fat
bottomed, screw power, and of light
draught. Her engines we're very power
full, and her CRATES arranged for either
coal or wood. While room and comfort
had been sacrificed to secure strength
and power, our accommodations were
still ample and convenient. We had a
large supply of small arms and ammu-
nltlon, and two six.pounders were
mounted on carriages so as to be used at
the gangways. All the upper cabin
windows were provided with bullet
proof shutters, and the woodwork was
strong and heavy. There was no doubt
thatwe should meet with hostile natives,
and it was only common prudence to be
prepared for them.
The English brig Duke took the
launch from England to Trinidad, where
she was set up and fitted ont, and it
was from that Island we took our de-
parture that September morning, carry
ing as much coal as we could possibly
stow away. On the second day, after
getting into the Orinoco, we were beyond
all settlements, and although the stream
is much used by native boatmen it was
only at long intervals that any craft
came in sight. There Is no ri:er in the
world, not even the Ganges, which is
more infested by crocodles. We saw
them almost from the moment We
entered the stream, and every mile
passed over the number seemed to in
crease. They were so bold and numerous
as to be serious menace to the native
craft, and we had been asked by Gov
ernment officials to kill as many as posi-
Bile. During the afternoon of the second
day three of US killed with our rides at
least fifty of the monsters Wherever
there was sandy beach the reptiles could
be found by the dozen, and some of the
sand bars in the river were hidden from
sight by the scaly bodies. The engines
were slowed down and the launch kept
as near the shore as safety would permit,
and we were often within pistol shot of
our targets. Few of the crocodiles
seemed armed at our appearau Q. and
some came swimming off from islands
and sand bars to inspect US. l have seen
the crocodiles of India and Atri a. where
they are supposed to attain Their largest
size, but they cannot compare with those
of the Orinoco. About O'Clock on the
afternoon of the second day, as we
swcrved into the mouth Of creek on the
right hand bank to escape some drift
wood coming down, every one uttered
an exc amation of astonishmcnt at sigh
of monster saurian lying among the
weeds. He was, as all agreed, fully
twenty-five feet long, and his bulk at
the middle was that of horse He lay
with his head away from US at first, but
on being made aware of our presence he
wh.rled about, opened his jaws wide
enough to take in an oil barrel, and took
his time about entering the water. Our
astonishment at his size was so great
that none of us fired shot.
After proceeding five miles further up
the stream we crossed to the left bank,
entered the mouth of another creek, in
tending to make our first excursion on
shore from this spot. Several crocodiles
followed in the wake of the steamer,
and some of the men declared that the
big fellow was among them. We ran
into the creek about four times our
length, and made fast to tree on shore,
and in a short time night shut down
over the forest.
Here was a great highway which had