JANUARY 18.
A Galli-wasp, which is killed in the neighbouring morass,
has just been brought to me. This is the alligator in miniature,
and is even more dreaded by the negroes than its great elation :
it is only to be found in swamps and morasses : that which was
brought to me was about eighteen inches in length, and I understand that it
is seldom longer,
although it grows in years, its
thickness and the size of its jaws and head become greatly increased. It
runs away on being
encountered, and conceals
itself; and it is only dangerous if trampled upon by accident,
or if attacked ; but then its bite is dreadful, not only from its
tongue being armed with a sting (the venom of which is very
powerful, although not mortal), but from its teeth being so
brittle that they generally break in the wound, and as it is
hardly possible to extract the pieces entirely, the wound corrupts,
and becomes an incurable sore of the most offensive nature.
Luckily these reptiles are very scarce ; but nothing can exceed
the terror and aversion in which they are held by the negroes.
This one had been lying dead in the room for several hours, yet,
on my servants accidently stirring the board on which it was
stretched for my inspection, my little negro servant George
darted out of the room in terror, and was at the bottom of the
staircase in a moment. the skin of this animal was like
shagreen in appearance and strength, and was almost entirely
composed of layers if very small scales ; the colours were
brownish-yellow and olive-green, the teeth and piercing
and the claws of the feet very long and sharp: altogether it
is a hideous and disgusting creature. As to the alligator of
Jamaica, it is a timid anima, which never was known to attack
the human species, though it frequently takes the liberty of running away
with a dog or two,
which appear to be their venison
and turtle. There is no river on my estate large enough for
them to inhabit ; but, in Paradise River, which is not above four
miles off, I understand that they are numerous.
