f fifty or sixty pounds, being produced every
year, and then the increase in production which these would make if left
to themselves! Why the rivers would be crowded; and it would be true
what old Father Gumilla once asserted, that "It would be as difficult to
count the grains of sand on the shores of the Orinoco, as to count the
immense number of tortoises that inhabit its margins and waters. Were
it not for the vast consumption of tortoises and their eggs, the river,
despite its great magnitude, would be unnavigable, for vessels would be
impeded by the enormous multitude of the tortoises."

But nature has provided against this "over-population" of the turtles by
giving them a great many enemies. The jaguars, the ocelots, the
crocodiles, the cranes, and the vultures, all prey upon them; and,
perhaps, if man were to leave them alone, the result would be, not such
a great increase in the number of the turtles, but that the creatures
who prey upon them would come in for a larger share.

The "carapa," or arrau turtle, is, when full grown, forty or fifty
pounds in weight. It is of a dark green colour above and orange
beneath, with yellow feet. There are many other species of fresh-water
turtles in the rivers of South America, but these breed separately, each
female choosing her own place, and making her deposit alone. Indeed,
some of the smaller species, as the "terekay," are more esteemed both
for their flesh and eggs; but as a large quantity of these eggs is never
found together, they are not collected as an article of trade, but only
to be roasted and eaten. The white does not coagulate in roasting or
boiling, and only the yolk is eaten, but that is esteemed quite as
palatable as the eggs of the common fowl. The flesh of all kinds is
eaten by the Indians, who fry it in pots, and then pour it with its own
oil into other vessels and permit it to cool. When thus prepared, it
will keep for a long time, and can be taken out when required for use.

Most of the above particulars were communicated by Guapo; and when he
had finished talking, all the others went to sleep, leaving Guapo to his
midnight vigil.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO VERY SCALY CREATURES.

When they awoke in the morning they found Guapo busy over the fire. He
had already been at the turtles' nests, and had collected a large
basketful of the eggs, some of which he was cooking for breakfast. In
addition to the eggs, moreover, hal