THE FEROCITY OF CROCODILES. 259 



slaves of both sexes, from plunging pell-mell, once or 

 twice a day, into the rivers or canals." 



Forbin relates that " the crocodiles sometimes come 

 close up to the houses at Bancok, and as they are 

 very timid, they are easily frightened off by shouting 

 or firing a gun at them, when they immediately escape 

 to the bottom .of the water." 



The same kind of sport which Audubon describes 

 with the caymans, is practised with the crocodiles on 

 the river Senegambia, San Domingo. According to 

 M. de Brue ("Hist. Gen. des Voyages "), not only do 

 the crocodiles of this river not injure any one, but even 

 "the children can play with them, mount their backs, 

 and beat them, without perceiving any signs of resent- 

 ment." 



Pliny remarks, that the crocodile flies before those 

 who pursue it, and that it permits itself to be guided 

 by men bold enough to leap on its back. 



A contemporary traveller, Mr. Combes, writes : " The 

 ferocity of the crocodile has been much exaggerated. 

 I have never seen a boatman hesitate to leap into the 

 water when it was necessary. At almost every turn 

 of our route we saw them up to their waists in the 

 water, endeavouring to disengage their heavily laden 

 barges, which had got aground. And on all sides 

 we saw children coming to fill their pitchers, or to 

 wash themselves, on the banks of the Nile." 



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