274 CROCODILES. 



blood winch, he left behind him began to frighten 

 us, and after having got him quite out of the water, we 

 were thunderstruck to perceive that the crocodile had 

 smashed his thigh, and had very nearly succeeded in 

 severing that member from the trunk. The doctor 

 sent his black slaves to the hospital, from which they 

 soon returned with a hand-barrow, on which the 

 wounded man, still in a swoon, was placed. We had 

 him transported to his dwelling, whither we followed 

 him, overwhelmed with sorrow. Notwithstanding the 

 most attentive care, the poor fellow died three days 

 afterwards, a prey to the most poignant suffering." 



I have done, as they say at the court, the cause 

 is heard. Enough has ben said to form an opinion 

 on the crocodilian family. Before concluding, how- 

 ever, one last fact remains to be established, which 

 will be the object of the following chapter. 



V. ON THE POSSIBILITY OF EDUCATING CROCODILES. 



THE crocodiles brought up in the temples of Eg}<pt 

 allowed themselves to be approached and handled. 

 They were adorned with bracelets and ear-pendants, 

 and, thus decked off, they discreetly took their place in 

 the religious ceremonies. The abundant nourishment 



