The Puma, Otter, Ant-Bear,
Deer, Armadillo, And Ostrich Are Alike Eaten, As Is Also The Jaguar,
A Ferocious Beast Of Immense Size.
I brought away from those regions
some beautiful skins of this animal, the largest of which measures
nearly nine feet from nose to tail.
In the sluggish, almost salt, streams, fish are numerous, and these
are shot by the Indian with arrows, to which is attached a string of
gut. Lakes and rivers are also filled with hideous-looking alligators
of all sizes. These grow to the length of twelve or fifteen feet in
these warm waters, and the tail is considered quite a delicacy.
Besides these varied dishes, there is the electric eel; and, sunk in
a yard depth of mud, is the lollock, of such interest to
naturalists The lollock is a fish peculiar to the Chaco. Though
growing to the length of three and four feet, it has only rudimentary
eyes, and is, in consequence, quite blind; it is also unable to swim.
The savage prods in the mud with a long notched lance, sometimes for
hours, until he sticks the appetizing fish.
The steamy waters are so covered with aquatic plants that in some
places I have been able to walk across a living bridge. Once, when
out hunting, I came upon a beautiful forest glade, covered with a
carpet of green. Thinking it a likely place for deer, I entered, when
lo, I sank in a fotid lake of slime. Throwing my gun on to the bank,
I had quite a difficulty to regain dry land.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 215 of 313
Words from 57263 to 57526
of 83353
