chaf. in THE CROCODILE. 57 



brutes frequently attack the natives when fishing or 

 bathing, but I have never heard of their pursuing any 

 person upon dry land. 



I remember an accident having occurred at 

 Madampi, on the west coast of Ceylon, about seven 

 years ago, the day before I passed through the village. 

 A number of women were employed in cutting rushes 

 for mat-making, and were about mid-deep in the water. 

 The horny tail of a large crocodile was suddenly seen 

 above the water among the group of women, and in 

 another instant one of them was seized by the thigh 

 and dragged towards the deeper part of the stream. 

 In vain the terrified creature shrieked for assistance ; 

 the horror-stricken group had rushed to the shore, and 

 a crowd of spectators on the bank offered no aid 

 beyond their cries. It was some distance before the 

 water deepened, and the unfortunate woman was 

 dragged for many yards, sometimes beneath the water, 

 sometimes above the surface, rending the air with hei 

 screams, until at length the deep water hid her from 

 their view. She was never again seen. 



Some of these reptiles grow to a very large size, 

 attaining the length of twenty feet, and eight feet in 

 girth, but the common size is fourteen feet. They 

 move slowly upon land, but are wonderfully fast and 

 active in the water. They usually lie in wait for 

 their prey under some hollow bank in a deep pool, 

 and when the unsuspecting deer or even buffalo stoops 



