[page 263]


195.

195.

had has the misfortune to fall into the water or had been the victim of another accident of the sort; but when they would arrive at the place, the crocodiles would devour them. These animals almost look like lizards, except their heads are a bit more pointed, and their feet shorter. What’s more, their bodies have no ...[337], which is why they are stiff like a piece of wood. One can take advantage of this when they sweep down on a man: one need only to take a few steps to the side, and they pass straight by like an arrow, unable to change direction, unless it is to make a wide turn like a heavily loaded cart etc.

unglücklicher Mensch der etwan gefallen, oder sonst der-gleichen Unglück gehabt ; wann sie aber dabey kommen seyn waren es Crocodillen welche sie verschlungen hatten. Diese Thieren haben fast ein Ansehen wie Eydexen aus-genommen sie haben etwas spitzigere Köpfe, ihre Füße auch kürtzer. Auch haben sie kein Gewerb an ihrem gantzen Leibe, dessenthalben seyn sie auch gantz steiff wie Holtz ! Dessentwegen kan man einen Vortheil brauchen wann sie auf ein Menschen loßschießen : Also darf man nur einige Schritte auf die Seit tretten so schießen sie wie eine Pfeil bey ihm vorbey und können sich nicht mehr umkehren ausser sie müssen einen Umkreiß hohlen wie ein geladner Wagen etc.

I myself often observed such animals: there were 2 of them, enclosed in a cage for the owner’s pleasure, behind an iron bars. They belonged to the Spanish governor residing in Portoblat[338]. I often would stand before the bars to observe these animals, who often cried and howled like real men; they do that most often when they are hungry, and they see people around. The 2 crocodiles, one of them 18 feet, and the other 21 feet long, were as large as an ordinary well-filled sack.

Ich habe vielemal selbst 2 dergleichen Thieren ge-sehen, welche in einem grossen eissernen Krämbs- Hauße eingesperret waren zum Zierathe. Diese ge-höreten dem spannischen Couverneur der alda zu Portoblat ressentieret. Ich stunde vielemal an diesem Gekrämße um diese Thieren zu betrachten welche ebenfalls auch vielemals weineten und lametierten als wie natürliche Menschen, dieses thun sie mehrstentheils wann sie Hunger haben, und Menschen bey sich herum sehen stehen. Diese 2 Crocodillen waren in der Grösse der eine von 18 der andere von 21 Schuhe lang in der Dickung wie ein ordinärer Sack der ausgefüllet ist.

[réclame]

auch

https://gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12148/btv1b10110846m/f132/pct:50,0,100,100/,700/0/native.jpg

Strasbourg, Médiathèque André Malraux, ms f 15, p. 263.

[agrandir]


 Notes

337. TN : the meaning of the word “Gewerb” is not clear enough.
338. Portoblat remains an unidentified locality. What is surprising is the fact that Flohr had access to a governor’s residence, all the more as there was no Spanish governor in Puerto Cabello. He resided in Caracas, which is farther inland. Numerous officers of the Royal Army were able to visit that city and were welcomed by this governor, Don Fernando y Gonzalvo y Morenos y Torres y Gonzales (according to to Journal du Prince de Broglie, Colonel en second du régiment de Saintonge, aux États-Unis d’Amérique et dans l’Amérique du Sud, 1782-1783, Société des Bibliophiles Français, 2nd part, Rahir, Paris, 1902) or Don Fernand Gonzales according to Count de Ségur (Mémoires, ou souvenirs et anecdotes, par M. le Comte de Ségur, 3 vols, Emery, Paris, 1826). Louis-Alexandre Berthier, for instance, relates his outing with Count de Ségur, Count de Dumas, and Marquis de Laval, and the many receptions hosted by the Caracas aristocracy in their honor. He describes the journey and some of the same dangers as Flohr, like the mahalebs or manicheel trees. Christian de Deux-Ponts may also have gone on such an outing himself, as Berthier and Baron von Closen mention an incident that happened to the count upon his return from La Guardia, the port of Caracas. Christian de Deux-Ponts unfortunately did not leave any accounts of his travels. Flohr may have accompanied one of these officers, particularly his colonel, as an aide, for example. However, even if the use of the first person singular in this precise case tends to lend credence to his words, which are difficult to question since the author’s personal interventions are so rare, this information should be considered with caution. So, if Flohr accompanied Christian de Deux-Ponts to Caracas, why does he not talk about the capture of their ship by the English under the orders of young Horatio Nelson on the return trip (see Closen, p. 312, in Clermont de Crèvecoeur’s journal p. 96 in The American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army)? Closen nevertheless mentions the presence of a certain Schmidt, who remains difficult to identify.