THE CROCODILE 



East African Rivers Full of Crocodiles — Hated by the Natives — How the Crocodile is 

 Hunted and Trapped — The Alligator. 



While stopping at the Juja ranch with his American friend, Mr. Mc- 

 Millan, Colonel Roosevelt had many chances to see the so much dreaded and 

 detested crocodiles, for the nearby Athi river was full of them, as are in- 

 deed all East African rivers and lakes. They would often suddenly plunge 

 in the river when surprised by the hunters or lie floating on the water or 

 on the sandy shores basking in the scorching sunshine. 



The hard and sgaly covering of the crocodile makes him proof against 

 ordinarv rifle bullets, and the shot which tells best on him is the one which 

 hits its head just where the vertebral column begins; it kills instantly. 



The crocodile does not seriously interfere with the peaceful progress of 

 civilization in Africa. Its home is the big rivers and the large lakes and it 

 very seldom ventures on an expedition on dry land in search of its prey. Once 

 in awhile it happens upon a native child playing near the river and then no 

 escape is possible. It is hunted exclusively on account of its valuable hide, 

 which is used for making trunks and handbags. 



As a pastime during the evenings, says an African traveler who recently 

 has covered the same hunting grounds as Mr. Roosevelt, my men and I 

 fished for crocodiles with line and hook. I had connected an island with the 

 right bank of the river by means of trees cut down on the island and the 

 banks. The trunks of enormous trees and their intertwined tops formed a 

 kind of river-bar, above and below which gathered numerous reptiles. I had 

 some shark-hooks with me. I baited them with large pieces of meat. When- 

 ever I had a bite from an animal, I gave it a long line, about one hundred 

 and fifty feet of thin, strong rope. Then ten or twelve of my men pulled 

 for all they were worth and dragged the crocodile — often weighing a thou- 

 sand pounds — to the bank. While the saurian was beating the water with 

 its awful tail, I killed it with a shot aimed at a spot just behind the head. 

 The dying animal emitted a sickening smell of musk. I often caught six 

 or more crocodiles in one night. We had to be very careful to keep out of 

 reach of the flexible and powerful tail of the animal. One of my men was 

 particularly eager to catch the hated "mamba" — he had once had a narrow 

 escape from a reptile and had sworn to take revenge on the whole brood. In 

 fact, many natives are maimed by crocodiles, and this huge reptile will not 



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