316 THE STORY OF THE CROCODILE. 



The crocodile feeds on fish, floating carrion, and dogs, or other animals, 

 which it is enabled to surprise as they come to drink at the water's edge, 

 but man frequently falls a victim to its voracity. In revenge for this treat- 

 ment, all nations persecuted with this pest have devised various methods of 

 killing it. The negroes of some parts of Africa are sufficiently bold and skillful 

 to attack the crocodile in his own element. They fearlessly plunge into the 

 water, and diving beneath the crocodile, plunge the dagger with which they 

 are armed into the creature's belly, which is not protected by the coat of 

 mail that guards the other parts of its body. The usual plan is to lie in 

 wait near the spot where the crocodile is accustomed to repose. This is 

 usually a sand-bank, and the hunter digs a hole in the sand, and, armed 

 with a sharp harpoon, patiently awaits the coming of his expected prey. 

 The crocodile comes to its accustomed spot, and is soon asleep, when it is 

 suddenly roused by the harpoon, which penetrates completely through its 

 scaly covering. The hunter immediately retreats to a canoe, and hauls at 

 the line attached to the harpoon until he drags the crocodile to the surface, 

 when he darts a second harpoon. The struggling animal is soon wearied 

 out, dragged to shore, and dispatched by dividing the spinal cord. In order 

 to prevent the infuriated reptile from biting the cord asunder, it is com- 

 posed of about thirty small lines, not twisted, but only bound together at 

 intervals of two feet. 



When on land it is not difficult to escape the crocodile, as certain pro- 

 jections on the vertebrae of the neck prevent it from turning its head to 

 any great extent. 



Human beings have a great dread of this terrible reptile. Many instances 

 are known where men have been surprised near the water's edge, or cap- 

 tured when they have fallen into the river. There is only one way of escape 

 from the jaws of the crocodile, and that is to turn boldly upon the scaly foe, 

 and press the thumbs into his eyes, so as to force him to relax his hold, or 

 relinquish the pursuit. 



The Shire River in Africa is very much infested with crocodiles, which at 

 times become very ferocious in their attacks upon the unhappy natives who 

 venture near the banks. This more particularly happens when there is a 

 scarcity of fish in the river, which is the case at flood time, when the fish are 

 driven from their usual haunts. Then it is not safe for any of the natives 

 to show themselves, and to bathe is to court destruction. 



I once saw a complete mob of immense crocodiles after one man, who 

 had ventured to bathe, and, of course, for the last time. The reptile which 



