CROCODILE CATCHING. 79 



always as sure as might be desired. After a lengthy 

 struggle I managed to get the crocodile within three 

 or four yards of the canoe, and in the clear blue 

 water of the pool we could see its yellow length 

 under the canoe fighting and snapping at the line, 

 and turning and twisting as it fought. But the sight 

 of the canoe was too much for it, and with a des- 

 perate effort it tore the line out of my grasp until 

 again only the end of it remained in my hands, and 

 continued the struggle in the depths of the pool. 

 Again I pulled in the line, and yard by yard it 

 yielded. This time I saw that I could get it within 

 reach of the canoe, and when it was within three or 

 four yards of us I handed the line to Manap, in 

 accordance with a preconcerted arrangement, and 

 picked up the spear. 



"Stab it in the soft part of the throat, Tuan, or 

 under the stomach, not in the back or sides ; and 

 stab quickly, for the line may be partly bitten 

 through." With straining muscles Manap hauled on 

 the line, and, swirling like " Ugudwash, the Sun- 

 Fish," the crocodile came up fighting through the 

 water. As it came to the surface, the water that 

 heaved and rocked to our exertions burst into a 

 fury of foam. In the middle of the turmoil one 

 could see four outspread claws with every nail out- 

 stretched, a swingeing, lashing tail, and a long flat 

 head with open jaws; all were mixed into a horrid 

 inextricable knot like the drawing of a Chinese 

 dragon on a plate. For a second it straightened, 

 and as it did so Manap hauled its head above the 

 level of the water, and I had a clear view of a 



