186 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



teeth are now scattered far and wide as trophies of the one 

 and only crocodile ever acknowledged to have been 

 discovered dead. 



To account for such a phenomenal occurrence a theory 

 should be forthcoming. This ill-fated crocodile is assumed 

 to have wandered from its proper quarters the Tully or the 

 Hull River, or one of the unnamed mangrove creeks of the 

 mainland. Having lost its way, it emerged from the sea 

 at pretty Panjoo. So different was the locality from that 

 to which the poor forlorn creature had been accustomed, it 

 was at once seized with a fatal attack of home-sickness. 

 Shedding a few tears natural to it (" 'Tis so, and the tears 

 of it are wet "), it died (" and the elements once out of it, 

 it transmigrates "). Such is the theory, annotated by Mark 

 Antony's immortal after-dinner gossip, on the emotions 

 and natural history of the species. 



THE ARAB'S PRECEPT 



" A Pearl of Great Price " 



" Mister, I tell you, neber say anything. I hab bin 

 reech once. I lorse my reechness for that I talk a little 

 bit ; but I talk too much. I poor man now. I lorse my 

 chants. Suppose I no lorse my chants I am reech man of 

 my country." 



So said Hassan, the Arab with the pearly teeth, as he 

 sat on the edge of the verandah one steaming January 

 evening. 



" Yes, Hassan. How did you lose your money ? " 



" I hab no money, Mister. But I hab a pearl. My 

 word, Mister, I tell you my yarn about that pearl. My 

 beauty beeg pearl. White pearl more white than snow- 

 white ! my pearl ! " 



The thin-framed swarthy Arab, with the flashing eyes 

 and glistening teeth, quivered with the intensity of his 

 recollection. 



" My beauty pearl. My beeg white pearl. My pearl 



