CROCODILES. 297 



guns. The affrighted crocodile flies for safety towards the 

 water. At once the river is covered with boats, which 

 wait to see him come up to respire, for he cannot re- 

 main below longer than half an hour without taking 

 breath. As he rises he opens his great mouth, and 

 then from all sides harpoons are launched at him. If he 

 receives any in his mouth (and the Siamese are very 

 adroit) he is taken. The handle of the harpoon which 

 floats, serves as a signal. He who holds the cord 

 knows when the animal quits the bottom, and wu ns 

 the fishermen, who do not fail, the moment he re- 

 appears, to launch more harpoons at him. When he 

 has received a sufficient number to be dragged to land, 

 they haul him in and cut him to pieces. This second 

 mode of fishing is more amusing than the first." 



THE END. 



