Baron Humboldt says: “In the savannas of Izacubo, Guiana, I saw the most
wonderful and terrible spectacle that can be seen; and although it be
not uncommon to the natives, no traveler has ever mentioned it. We were
ten men on horseback, two of whom took the lead, in order to sound the
passages, while I preferred to skirt the great forests. One of the
blacks who formed the vanguard returned at full gallop, and called to
me, ‘Here, sir, come and see the serpents in a pile.’ He pointed to
something elevated in the middle of the savanna or swamp, which appeared
like a bundle of arms. One of my company said, ‘This is certainly one of
the assemblages of serpents which heap themselves on each other after a
violent tempest. I have heard of these, but never saw any; let us
proceed cautiously, and not too near them.’ When we were within twenty
paces of it, the terror of our horses prevented our approaching nearer,
to which none of us were inclined. On a sudden, the pyramid mass became
agitated; a horrid hissing issued from it, thousands of serpents rolled
spirally on each other, and shot forth out of the circle their hideous
heads, presenting their envenomed darts and fiery eyes to us. I own I
was the first to draw back, but when I saw this formidable phalanx
remain at its post, and appear to be more disposed to defend itself than
to attack us, I rode round, in order to view its order of battle, which
faced the enemy on every side. I then thought what could be the design
of this numerous assemblage; and I concluded that this species of
serpent dreaded some colossean enemy, which might be the great serpent
or cayman, and they reunite themselves after seeing the enemy, so as to
resist this enemy in a mass.”