ALL ARE AGREED. 283 



the sweet temper of those of Eio San Domingo 

 by " the care which the inhabitants take to feed 

 them and treat them well." I confess that this 

 explanation does not satisfy me, and that the inhabi- 

 tants of the Kio appear to me to turn in a vicious 

 circle. It seems that the feeding and care which 

 they lavish on the crocodile, by tending to the 

 multiplication of the species, would have as its result 

 to give birth to a number of empty, and there- 

 fore dangerous, stomachs. For this reason, I 

 regard as much safer the other method, which 

 consists in inspiring the crocodile with a wholesome 

 terror. Its very nature suggests this treatment, 

 and the effect is unfailing. This great animal 

 is by no means courageous in proportion to its 

 size. 



./Elian says that it dreads the loud shouts of man. 

 Of this we have had more than one proof in the 

 anecdotes already reported. 



After mentioning the accident to the hauler, M. 

 Tremeaux adds : " Our men continued, nevertheless, 

 to throw themselves into the water, when the neces- 

 sity arose, as if nothing had happened ; to our 

 observations they replied that there was no danger 

 so long as they kept close to the boats, or when 

 men remained in groups in the water." That is 



