Remark 2. Sierraleon River is very broad here, but in ten or twelve Miles rowing upwards, narrow to half the Breadth of the Thames at London, spread on both sides thick with Mangroves; Trees, or slender woody Shrubs, that spring from the low, watry Banks of Rivers, in warm Climates. From the Branches, the Sap descends again and takes a second Root, and so on, a third, fourth, &c. that the Ground is all covered; very difficult, if not impossible for Men to penetrate: This makes them fit Haunts for the Manatea and Crocodile (Sea-Cow and Alligator) which, with the Shirks, very much infest the River. A Story or two of these Creatures, may not be unacceptable.
The Manatea is about eleven or twelve Foot long, and in girt half as much; Teeth only in the back part of her Mouth, which are like the Ox’s, as is also her Muzzle and Head; with this difference, that her Eyes are small in proportion, and Ears you can scarce thrust a Bodkin in; close to her Ears almost, are two broad Finns, sixteen or eighteen Inches long, that feel at the Extremities as tho’ jointed; a broad Tail, Cuticle granulated, and of a colour and touch like Velvet: the true Skin an Inch thick, used by the West-Indians in Thongs for punishing their Slaves; weigh to five or fix hundred Weight; of a firm Flesh, that cuts fat, lean, and white like Veal: Boiled, stewed, or roasted (for I have eaten it all ways) it has no fishy Taste, but is as acceptable a Treat as Venison to Cockneighs.
The Negroes way of taking them, is in a Canoo, which they paddle towards the Manatea with as little noise as possible, (she being extreamly quick of hearing:) when near enough, a Man placed ready in the Boat’s Head, strikes in his Harpoon with a long Pole into her, and lets go. She makes towards the Mangroves immediately, and the Water being shallow, they now and then get sight of the Pole, and so follow, renewing the Strokes till they kill, or weary her, and then drag her ashore.
The Alligator answers in all respects, and doubtless is the Egyptian Crocodile; shaped not unlike the Lizard, but of two hundred Weight perhaps, covered with hard Scales that are impenetrable to Shot, unless very near; long Jaws set with sharp Teeth, two very large, and two small: Finns like Hands: A Tail thick and continuous; will live a long time out of the Water, being sold frequently alive in the West-Indies. They are not shy, but rather bold, and tho’ easily waked, will not make off presently, our Boats falling down with the Stream within a few yards of them, before they stir; laying basking to the Sun, in little muddy Nooks they form in their egress from the Mangroves. When they float upon the Water, they lie very still and like a Log of Timber, till the little Fry underneath come unwarily sporting about them and tempt their greedy Stomachs; they diving very quick upon their Prey.
One of these set upon a Man of Captain Masterton’s, a Sloop that put in here from Sherbro. The Sailor, to avoid walking round a Bay, and being mellow with drinking, would needs cut his way short by wading over a weedy part of it up to his Breast, where the Alligator seized him; and the Fellow having full Courage, ran his Arm down his Throat: Notwithstanding which, the Crocodile loosed, and renewed the Battle two or three times, till a Canoo that saw the Distress, paddled to his Relief, but he was torn unmercifully in his Buttocks, Arms, Shoulders, Thighs, and Sides; and had not the Creature been young, must certainly have been killed. The Man recovered of his Wounds.
Shirks very much infest the Mouth of this River; the most bold and ravenous of the watry Tribe: He never forsakes your Hook, till he is taken, and slights the Proverb,
Occultum visus decurrere piscis ad hamum.
We have catched three in less than half an hour, each 8 or 10 Foot long, the Livers of them making above ten Gallons of Oil. They have four or five Rows of short, sharp Teeth, one within another, and the Sides of them indented like Saws. Their Swallows 14 and 16 Inches over. In the Maws, we found Beef Bones, and what other Trash had been thrown over-board in the Day; for they are like the Parson’s Barn; they turn on their backs to take in their Prey. Our Seamen dressed and eat the Flesh, tho’ very strong; the fault of all carnivorous Animals.
These Shirks have generally two, three, or more pretty-coloured little Fish, the bigness of Herrings attending them, called Pilots: They go in and out at his Maw, or fasten on his Back, in familiar manner: They are supposed like the Jackall to the Lion, to be instrumental in procuring him Prey, and warning him of Danger in Shoals, for which he receives Food, and Protection from the Shirk.
I shall give an Instance or two within my own knowledge, to shew the Boldness and Rapacity of this Fish.