Very strange stories are told of these Eels, and its power to give an
Electric shock to any person or animal who touches it. Alexander von
Humboldt is said to have given the first precise account of this very
curious Eel. This celebrated Naturalist tells of a voyage up the Orinoco
for the purpose of studying the Electrical Eel, great numbers of which
are found in the neighborhood of this river. Some Indians conducted the
party to the Cano de Bera, a muddy pond surrounded by rich vegetation,
Indian figs and beautiful flowers.
The party of Naturalists were surprised when they learned that it would
be necessary to use about thirty half-wild Horses to help them fish for
the Electrical Eel, and that the severe shocks of electricity given by
the Eels must be expended upon the Horses before it would be safe to
touch the Eels.
While our hosts were explaining to us this strange mode of fishing, the
troop horses and mules had arrived, and the Indians had made a sort of
battue, pressing the horses on all sides, and forcing them into the
marsh. The Indians, armed with long canes and harpoons, placed
themselves round the basin, some of them mounting the trees, whose
branches hung over the water, and by their cries, and still more by
their canes, prevented the horses from landing again.
The Eels, stunned by the noise, defended themselves by repeated
discharges of their batteries. For a long time it seemed as if they
would be victorious over the Horses. Some of the Mules especially, being
almost stifled by the frequency and force of the shock, disappeared
under the water, and some of the Horses, in spite of the watchfulness of
the Indians, regained the bank, where, overcome by the shocks they had
undergone, they stretched themselves at their whole length.
The picture presented was now indescribable. Groups of Indians
surrounded the basin; the Horses with bristling mane, terror and grief
in their eyes, trying to escape from the storm which had surprised them;
the Eels, yellow and livid, looking like great aquatic Serpents swimming
on the surface of the water, and chasing their enemies, were objects at
once appalling and picturesque. In less than five minutes two Horses
were drowned.
When the struggle had lasted a quarter of an hour, the Mules and Horses
appeared less frightened, the manes became more natural, the eyes
expressed less terror, the Eels shunned, in place of attacking them; at
the same time approaching the bank, when they were easily taken by
throwing little harpoons at them attached to long cords; the harpoon,
sometimes hooking two at a time, being landed by means of the long cord.
They were drawn ashore without being able to communicate any shock.
Having landed the Eels, they were transported to little pools dug in the
soil, and filled with fresh water; but such is the terror they inspire,
that none of the people of the country would release them from the
harpoon—a task which the travelers had to perform themselves, and
receive the first shock, which was not slight—the most energetic
surpassing in force that communicated by a Leyden jar, completely
charged.
The Electrical Eel surpasses in size and strength all the other Electric
Fishes. Humboldt saw them five feet three inches long. They vary in
color according to age, and the nature of the muddy water in which they
live. Beneath, the head is of a fine yellow color mixed with red; the
mouth is large, and furnished with small teeth arranged in many rows.
The Electrical Eel gives the most frightful shocks without the least
muscular movement in the fins, in the head, or any other part of the
body. The shock, indeed, depends upon the will of the animal, and in
this respect differs from a Leyden jar, which is discharged by
communicating with two opposite poles. It happens sometimes that an
Electrical Eel, seriously wounded, only gives a very weak shock, but if,
thinking it exhausted, it is touched fearlessly, its discharge is
terrible.