3M CURIOUS CREATURES. 



after the Crocodile, and, meeting with it, without feare cast 

 themselves uppon the Beasts backe, ryding on him as 

 uppon a horse. And if the Beast lift uppe his head to 

 byte him, when hee gapeth they put into his mouth a 

 wedge, holding it hard at both ends with both their 

 hands, and so, as it were with a bridle, leade, or rather 

 drive, them captives to the Land, where, with theyr 

 noyse, they so terrific them, that they make them cast 

 uppe the bodies which they had swallowed into theyr 

 bellies ; and because of this antypathy in Nature, the 

 Crocodyles dare not come neare to this Hand. 



" And Strabo also hath recorded, that at what time 

 crocodiles were brought to Rome, these Tentyrites folowed 

 and drove them. For whom there was a certaine great 

 poole or fish-pond assigned, and walled about, except 

 one passage for the Beast to come out of the water into 

 the sun shine : and when the people came to see them, 

 these Tentyrites, with nettes would draw them to the 

 Land, and put them backe againe into the water at 

 theyr owne pleasure. For they so hooke them by theyr 

 eyes, and bottome of their bellyes, which are their 

 tenderest partes, that, like as horses broken by theyr 

 Ryders, they yeelde unto them, and forget theyr strength 

 in the presence of these theyr Conquerors. . . . 



"To conclude this discourse of Crocodiles inclina- 

 tion, even the Egyptians themselves account a Crocodile 

 a savage, and cruell murthering beast, as may appeare 

 by their Hieroglyphicks, for when they will decyphcr a 

 mad man, they picture a Crocodile, who beeing put from 

 his desired prey by forcible resistance, hee presently 

 rageth against himselfe. And they are often taught by 

 lamentable experience, what fraude and malice to mankind 

 liveth in these beasts ; for, when they cover themselves 



