' h \i'T. \ix ocodilea. 257 



vision, and tho base the l><»ttoni of tlie river, it follows that an 

 extension of the two Legs extends the base, or, in other words, 

 that the fly which is further off, from being at the surface, is 

 visible over a greater breadth of bottom, than the tly which, 

 from being sunk, is nearer the bottom. 



An objection to wading is said to be that yon are now and 

 then swallowed by a crocodile. But I have not experienced that 

 sensation yet, and though there are crocodiles enough, I do not 

 think there is really anything to be feared from them. I have 

 again and again waded in just where I have seen a crocodile 

 disappear, or have noticed fresh footmarks and basking places. 

 Mr. Sanderson, in his "Thirteen Years among the Wild Beasts 

 "of India." writes the following: — 



•' The few crocodiles that are fonnd in the Mysore rivers very rarely 

 " attack people ; and fishermen — who pay no heed to them — have told 

 " me that, if they come upon a crocodile whilst following their employ- 

 " ment, it will skulk at the bottom, and not move though handled, 

 " apparently believing it escapes observation. Crocodiles are, like all 

 " wild creatures, very timid where not encouraged, as is sometimes 

 " done by superstitious natives. Incredible though it may seem to 

 " readers with no knowledge of the saurians but that derived from 

 " stories of their boldness elsewhere, I may instance having seen several 

 " 'bestaa ' (the professional boatmen, divers, and fishermen of Mysore) 

 "dive time after time into water 12 feet deep, and bring to the surface 

 " by the tail a crocodile 7 feet long which I had wounded. The 

 " creature was not in any way crippled, but seemed overcome with fear. 

 • - lt offered no resistance till dragged near a rock, where I stood with 

 " a rope, when it would turn and snap at the man pulling it, always 

 " sinking, however, the moment this demonstration made him let go its 

 " tail. Different divers went down successively, one at a time, and 

 " brought it to the surface. I at last killed it with a charge of shot. 



Still they did kill women ami children groping for shell-fish 

 in Mala 



Whether or not it was under a mistake on this head, the 

 Government sanctioned a reward for killing them in Malabar, at 

 so much a yard, and tin- result was that seven miles of them were 

 killed in a very -hort time. 



I think it must be the American alligator thai is the bai 



THE BOD IS ISI'I I. S 



