122 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



news travels in the jungle. Many times, in break- 

 ing through virgin country, I have found that the 

 news of my coming had preceded me and that the 

 natives knew all about me and were waiting for 

 me. The only explanation I could ever get was 

 simply, "Tuan, we heard." 



A good opportunity to impress the natives pre- 

 sented itself one day when I was preparing to take 

 a plunge in the river. Munshee stopped me, say- 

 ing: "Take care, sir. There are crocodiles in the 

 river." He told me that many natives had lost 

 their lives recently and that men had had their 

 arms snapped off while they were paddling boats. 



I took his advice and went to the house where my 

 supplies were stored. Presently I returned with 

 a stick of dynamite and a fuse. Gathering the 

 natives around me, I explained* to them that they 

 were to line the banks of the river and prepare to 

 come out in their boats when I gave the signal. 

 They were entirely mystified, for they had never 

 heard of dynamite. 



Going up-stream, I prepared the charge and then 

 drifted down, dropping it over. Wide-eyed and 

 puzzled, they watched the smoking fuse disappear 

 into the water. Then came a muffled explosion, 

 which made them jump; the water trembled, shak- 

 ing the boats and frightening them; fish came to 

 the surface. I signaled and the scramble to gather 

 the fish began. 



AH was standing near me, ready to put the rifle 



