i6gy.] CROCODILES. 233 



For Wolves they are altogether unknown in this Country, as 

 well as Foxes. 



There are abundance of Deer and Apes of all kinds. 

 Crocodiles are extreamly dreaded here, insomuch that the 

 Company give thirty Florins for every one that is kill'd ; 

 some have been seen of twenty or thirty foot long : The com- 

 mon Opinion in this Country, as it has always been among 

 the Naturalists is, that this Animal grows as long as he lives, 

 which nevertheless seems a Fable. I omit other Stories that 

 are told of this Creature ; even a Musket-ball can't enter its 

 Back, you must shoot at its Belly. He is very swift in 

 running, and when you are pursu'd by him you must fly 

 "dodging, because his Body being very long, and not at all 

 flexible, must have time to turn, when you may gain Ground 

 and get easily from him : He is a great lover of Dog's-flesh, 

 and as 'tis said, no less greedy of Man's, but care is taken he 

 seldom meets with the last. These Creatures are sometimes 

 taken with a large Hook, fasten'd to the end of a Chain, and 

 baited with a piece of Dog's or Sheep's Flesh. I have seen 

 one taken in a Net at Sea, about half a Mile^ from Batavia : 

 He was thirty^ foot long. His flesh was white, and smelt a 

 little Mustish^ : It is wholsom enough to eat. Some Persons 

 w^io liv'd a long time at Batavia assur'd me there is a sort 

 of Crocodile which is a particular Enemy to the Poultry. 

 These Animals live for the most part in the Sea, or in the 

 disemboguing of Pavers : There are likewise Serpents in this 

 Island. One day as the Sieur de la Case was hunting in a 

 "Wood near Batavia, he perceivM one coming down from a 

 Tree hissing : It was as large as his Arm, and seven or eight 

 foot long. As this Serpent approach'd, and began to come 

 furiously at him, he killed him with a Fusee.* He had a 



' In orig. 



2 In orig. 



3 In orig. 

 * In orig. 



" a cinq cens pas." 

 " treize." 



" un peu musquee." 

 "d'un coup de fusil. 



