ELECTRICAL EEL.

This eel (gymnotus electricus) abounds in the lower provinces of Venezuela and Carraccas. It possesses the singular faculty of stunning its prey by an electrical discharge.

The old road near Urutica has been actually abandoned, on account of the danger experienced in crossing a ford, where the mules were from the effect of concealed shocks, often paralyzed and drowned.

Even the angler sometimes receives a stroke, conveyed along his wetted rod and fishing line, (four feet long.)

The sensation is highly painful, and leaves a numbness in the part affected.

It resembles the effect of a blow on the head.

The Indians dread them so that I was obliged to go myself to assist in taking them.

I was conveyed to a pool of muddy, stagnant water, and soon witnessed a novel spectacle.

About 30 horses and mules were immediately collected from the adjacent savannahs, where they run half wild, and are only valued seven shillings a head when the owners happened to be known.

These, the Indians hem on all sides, and drive into the marsh; then pressing the edge of the water, or climbing along the extended branches of the trees, armed with long bamboos or harpoons, they with loud cries push the animals forward or prevent their retreat.

The gymnoti, roused from their slumbers by this noise and tumult, mount near the surface and swim, like so many livid water serpents, briskly pursue the intruders, and gliding under their bellies, discharge through them the most violent and repeated shocks.

The horses, convulsed and terrified, their mane erect, and their eyes starting with pain and anguish, make unavailing struggles to escape.

In less than five minutes, two of them sunk under the water and were drowned.

Victory seemed to declare for the electric eels.

But the activity now began to relax.

Fatigued by such expense of nervous energy, they shot their electric discharge with less frequency and effect.

The surviving horses gradually recovered from the shock and became more composed and vigorous.

In a quarter of an hour the eels retired from the contest, and in such a state of languor and complete exhaustion, that they were easily dragged on shore by means of harpoons fastened on cords.

This is called, in allusion to catching fish by an infusion of narcotic plants, poisoning with horses.—Humboldt’s Narrative.