THE RIVER 39 



These huge creatures will lie on the sand banks for 

 hours thus motionless. When sailing on the river I have 

 often watched them. Suddenly one is moved by some 

 impulse. Perhaps the approach of the boat has alarmed 

 it. It starts into life ; it makes a rush to the river, 

 throws itself over the edge of the bank, and falls into 

 the stream with a thud and a splash that resound over 

 the water far and wide. 



Considering what awkward, short -legged creatures 

 alligators are, it is surprising to observe the speed with 

 which they can run, but of course only for a very limited 

 distance. It is said that they can overtake a man, and 

 there are many stories of their having done so. Some 

 native has ventured too near an alligator and provoked 

 or disturbed him ; a chase has ensued, and the man 

 been overtaken and devoured. On the other hand, 

 I have often been assured that a man, if pursued by 

 an alligator, can always escape by suddenly turning, 

 for the alligator can only turn after making a consider- 

 able circuit ; and by the time the circuit is completed 

 the man is too far off to be overtaken. It is necessary, 

 however, that the man when turning should keep his 

 head, for otherwise, instead of passing the alligator, he 

 may probably run into his jaws. 



But I have not much faith in these stories. It is 

 possible that men may sometimes have been seized and 

 devoured by alligators on the land, but I never myself 

 knew of an instance. The alligators, however, do 

 certainly occasionally seize and carry off human beings 

 in the water, especially women and children at the 

 bathing-places. Many alligators when shot and opened 



