E X P E D I T I O N TO SU R IN AM. 145
males .eati5g the: greater portion of them. On land this CHAP,
animal is not dangerous for want of activity, but in the , V*L }
rivers, where he is often feen lurking for. his prey, with
his muzzle alone above water, fomething like, the flump
of an old tree* he is truly tremendous to all that approach
h im ; yet. of man,; as> I have feen,. he as afraid, during
the time he keeps his hands -and feet in motion, hut no
longer.r "Some negroes :even have the; courage to attack
and vanquifh the affigatpr in his own element, notwithstanding.
his violent ftrength afad. unequalled ferocity*
being particularly fond of human flefli.
The difference between the above animal and the era*
codile*. {which is, :alfo found in? Surinam) confifts not
merely in the name, ’hut in the fhape and in the nature
alfo, .the latterrheing longer. and more Render in pro*
pprtiom ' and not fo ferocious; Jhe, alligator oar Cayman
fas called by the natives and -negroes) is befides more
frequently met with than the crocodile^ which partly may
he, .theicaufe of its beingiuppofed to he more deftrudtive.
I fhall only add, that in AJia there is a conflderable
difference to be found upon a nice examination between
the above two reptiles? where. -they are alfolarger than
they are in any parts of America.
Had it not been for an accident, thefe creatures would
never have been, known by any other name than that of
crocodile:. for had the firft navigators feen any thing
more refembling their form than, a lizard, they would
hayeadopted that which the Indians called them b& v iz.
Vol. I, U the