The screams of the poor
fellow were terrible as the cayman was running off with him. He plunged
into the river with his prey; we instantly lost sight of him, and never saw
or heard him more."
I was a day and a half in dissecting our cayman, and then we got all ready
to return to Demerara.
It was much more perilous to descend than to ascend the falls in the
Essequibo.
The place we had to pass had proved fatal to four Indians about a month
before. The water foamed and dashed and boiled amongst the steep and craggy
rocks, and seemed to warn us to be careful how we ventured there.
I was for all hands to get out of the canoe, and then, after lashing a long
rope ahead and astern, we might have climbed from rock to rock and tempered
her in her passage down, and our getting out would have lightened her much.
But the negro who had joined us at Mrs. Peterson's said he was sure it
would be safer to stay in the canoe while she went down the fall. I was
loath to give way to him, but I did so this time against my better
judgment, as he assured me that he was accustomed to pass and repass these
falls.
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