258 CROCODILES. 



rope, draw him about, even into the houses, without 

 his exhibiting any desire to defend himself, 



Bosc, a traveller in Carolina, agrees with Dampier ; 

 he has been quite close to caymans without their 

 making any attempt to bite him. 



Audubon goes farther, and says that these animals 

 are so gentle, during (Le summer and autumn, that the 

 people get on their backs and compel them to carry 

 them. 



So much for caymans. Now let us turn to crocodiles. 

 Corneille de Pengu, in his "Voyage aux Indes Orien- 

 tales," relates that a crocodile was taken sixteen feet and 

 a half in length, and six feet and a half round, which 

 had devoured thirty-two persons, and that on his body 

 being opened, a human skeleton was found therein. 



Seba, who reproduced that story, regards it as 

 impossible ; and he adds, that the crocodile, far from 

 devouring man, holds him in such fear as to make 

 his escape as soon as he sees or hears him. 



Bosman (" Histoire de la Guinee Orientale ") agrees 

 with Seba. " They lie in the sun, on the banks of 

 rivers, and the moment they perceive a man, they are 

 so frightened that they precipitate themselves to the 

 bottom of the water." Bosman has never heard of 

 these animals attacking a man, or even a beast. 



Thunberg writes : " The presence of crocodiles does 

 not prevent the natives of -Batavia, as well as the 



