REPTILES 



295 



Digging at the throat of the reptile with the knife, whenever 

 the under surface came into view, and jumping aside at each snap, 

 we succeeded in cutting the jugular, and the croc succumbed 

 to its many wounds, within a few inches of the edge of the water. 

 Our boatmen even then would not venture near for some time. 

 The carcass was drawn into the boat, and we proceeded on our 

 journey, whilst I made my first — and I take care it shall be the 

 last — autopsy on a croc. It was interesting to dissect the reptile, 

 examine its internal organs, and ascertain that the stomach con- 



CROCODILE-POOL AT FAJAO. 



tained apparently a bushel of pebbles, but absolutely no vestige 

 of food ; but — the odour on my hands afterwards and for days ! 

 No amount of soaping and scrubbing seemed to get it off, and it 

 almost nauseated me, when I raised food to my mouth. 



Some natives do eat croc, but very few. The gall-bladder, 

 with the contained gall, w\-is in great request. According to 

 some natives, it is highly prized by their " medicine-men " for 

 supposed medicinal virtues ; according to others, it is used in 

 the manufacture of some very deadly poison. On rejoining 

 the travellers in the other boats, the miraculous revolver shot 

 which disabled the monster croc at thirty yards, was explained 



