chap. in. DEATH OF A CROCODILE. 63 



to the bottom, the rushes moved slightly and were 

 then still. 



I now put the canoe ashore, and cutting a strong 

 stick, with a crook at one end, I again put out to the 

 spot and dragged for him. He was quite dead ; and 

 catching him under the fore-leg, I soon brought him 

 gently to the surface of the water. I now made fast 

 a line to his fore-leg, and we towed him slowly to the 

 village, the canoe being level with the water's edge. 



His weight in the water was a mere trifle, but on 

 arrival at the village on the banks of the lake, the vil- 

 lagers turned out with great glee, and fastened ropes 

 to different parts of his body to drag him out. This 

 operation employed about twenty men. The beast 

 was about fourteen feet long ; and he was no soonei 

 on shore than the natives cut him to pieces with 

 axes, and threw the sections into the lake to be de- 

 voured by his own species. This was a savage kind 

 of revenge, which appeared to afford them great satis- 

 faction. 



Taking a large canoe, I paddled along the shores 

 of the lake with a shot-gun. and made a good bag of 

 ducks and teal, and returned to breakfast. The fat- 

 ness and flavour of the wild ducks in Ceylon are quite 

 equal to the best in England. 



