SEA TRAGEDY OF THE JUNGLE FOLK 123 



into my hands, and I strained my eyes, looking for 

 crocodiles. Suddenly a woman pointed to the op- 

 posite bank and screamed, "Buaia (crocodile) !" 



I yelled to Munshee to take his men down-stream 

 and keep them quiet and on the alert ; then I directed 

 my boat above the spot where the woman had 

 pointed. I dropped another stick of dynamite over- 

 board. A few seconds later, the belly of a crocodile 

 appeared on the surface, its feet and tail moved 

 feebly. It was stunned by the explosion mabok 

 (drunk), as the natives say 



I took my gun and put two bullets into its belly. 

 Before it could sink, Ali grabbed its tail; then we 

 made for the shore. The natives gathered about, 

 wildly excited, and Mahommed Munshee was the 

 proudest man in the village. He had vouched for 

 my abilities and I had proved my possession of 

 the powers that he claimed for me. It was hobat-an 

 (magic). 



The crocodile measured fifteen feet, four inches, 

 and was twenty-five years old. The natives could 

 tell its age by counting the pebbles in its pouch. 



I decided to stop at Munshee's a few days longer, 

 to have the men gather rattan to make the nets, 

 and also to talk with the natives about orang- 

 outangs and plan all the details of the capture. 

 Omar, the other headman, went on up to his vil- 

 lage, taking with him as much of our store of 

 provisions as he could carry. I was willing enough 

 to have him spread the crocodile story among the 



