456 CROCODILIA CHAP. 



from a foot in length and u}>wai(ls, ran nimbly along the margin 

 of the pond, disappearing suddenly in llie turbid waters as soon 

 as we approached. The largest crocodile lives in a long narrow 

 tank separated from the others. The fakirs, and natives who 

 worship in the neighbouring temples, have painted his forehead 

 red ; they venerate the old monster, making a salaam to his 

 majesty whenever he shows himself above water. A handsome 

 young Beloochee, whose occupation it was to feed the animals, 

 informed us that this specimen was upwards of 200 years old, 

 and that by way of a ' tit-bit ' he was in the habit of devouring 

 the young crocodiles. During our visit this enormous brute 

 was asleep on the l)ank of his dwelling-place, and seemed quite 

 indifferent to our presence, although we came within a foot of 

 him, and even attempted to arouse him by rubbing his nose with 

 a leg of goat's flesh, which, however, a young one greedily .seized. 

 Our attendant tried in vain to excite their ferocity, but beyond 

 a feeble attempt to snap their trenchant teeth, the animals 

 showed no disposition to attack us. 



" A. pony was wading about in the pond and feeding on the 

 grassy hillocks, but the crocodiles took no notice of him. 



" The crocodiles dig deep in the sand, under the neighbouring 

 date-trees, and there deposit their eggs. Quantities of deciduous 

 teeth, of various sizes, were strewn along the slimy sides of the 

 pond. 



" Strangers are expected to stand treat, not only by the fakirs 

 and natives, who gain a livelihood by lianging about the pond 

 and showinu' the monsters, but even the crocodiles themselves 

 seem to anticipate a feast, and on the arrival of a party come 

 out in unusual numbers. Accordingly, we had a goat slaughtered, 

 during which operation the brutes seemed to rouse themselves, 

 as if preparing foi' a rusli. Then our guide, taking piece after 

 piece of the flesh, dashed it on the bank, uttering a low growling 

 sound, at which the whole taidc became in motion, and croco- 

 diles, of whose existence we had lieen before ignorant, splashed 

 through tlie shallow water, struggling which would seize the 

 prize. The shore was literally covered with scaly monsters, 

 snapping their jaws at one another." 



Sir J. Emerson Tennent ^ has liad many opportunities of 

 studying the habits of the Marsh Crocodile. According to him 



^ Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon, London, 1861. 



