320 LEAVES FROM THE 



crust, of a rugged surface, and of a cloudy white colour, 

 were taken out of a female thirty feet long. 



It was to be expected that the Roman populace, whose 

 cry for novelty at the great shows only equalled that for 

 bread, would be familiarized with the monsters of the 

 Nile :— 



Marcus Scaurus was the first man who, in his plaies and games 

 that he set out in his sedileship, made a show of one water-horse 

 and four crocodiles, swimming in a poole or mote made for the 

 time during these solemnities.* 



This seems to have been a zoological exhibition, and 

 nothing more ; but the crocodiles were soon brought for- 

 ward for more cruel purposes, and to pander to the 

 popular lust for blood. Augustus turned six-and-thirty 

 into the amphitheatre at once. The shout raised by the 

 thousands who beheld that monstrous entrance, could 

 only have been equalled by the breathless silence with 

 which they saw the bold, calm gladiators advance upon 

 their frightful antagonists. The bestiarii, who were 

 sworn to face any living thing that their lord and master 

 chose to oppose to them, did their butcherly duty that 

 day, for not one of the thirty-six was left alive. 



Most probably the conquerors feasted on them after- 

 wards, for there was a sajning that 



A crocodile is good meat. 

 All save the head and feet ; 



though a little musky, perhaps; and the head was not 

 without its use in the Roman pharmacopoeia, as, for 

 instance : — 



The eie-teeth of the said crocodile, filled up with fi-ankineense 

 (for hollow they be), and tied to any part of the body, put by 

 those periodicall fevers which use to return at sett and certaine 

 hours ; but then the patient must not for five dayes together see 

 the party who fastened the same about him. And they report 

 likewise, that the little gravel stones taken out of their belly be of 



* Holland's Phny. 



