CROCODILE 33 



some rocks, which it closely resembled in colouring. Close by was a drinking-place 

 frequented by baboons. Towards evening a troop of these animals cautiously 

 approached the river ; but it was not until they were quite close to their lurking- 

 enemies that one of the younger members of the party became aware of the 

 danger. With loud screams this young baboon sought safety in a tree, of which 

 it shook the branches violently in order to make a noise and thus cause the crocodile 

 to move and betray its presence. The other baboons joined in the attempt, but 

 without success, for as the sun set the crocodile still lay like a harmless log or rock 

 in the river. 



After an unsuccessful attack on a flock of birds a crocodile will not 

 unfrequently swim some distance down-stream with its muzzle just above the 

 surface till the unsuspecting birds come once more to drink, when there is a sudden 

 splash in the water, an enormous head rises to the surface, and a pair of huge jaws 

 open and close upon perhaps half a dozen victims. In order that their cattle may 

 drink in safety, herdsmen construct fences around certain shallow places near the 

 banks, which the crocodiles do not venture to climb when a man is on guard 

 behind. 



Much has been written about the awkwardness of crocodiles on land, but this 

 is mainly due to incorrect observations, and based on the erroneous idea that 

 these reptiles have stiff necks which they cannot bend. As a matter of fact, a 

 crocodile on land, if undisturbed, moves quietly and easily in a lizard-like fashion ; 

 and when startled is extremely quick in turning. Crocodiles are possessed of a 

 kind of wandering instinct, and sometimes travel from one place to another miles 

 away, for some reason not yet known. In such cases these reptiles often climb 

 fairly steep banks, and apparently travel across country during the night. 



At the approach of danger crocodiles instantly retreat to the water, and are 

 rarely surprised on shore. On land they will attack only while watching their 

 eggs, at which times the female will rush furiously at intruders. In the water 

 they generally avoid a combat by diving. 



When the Nile is low, hippopotamus-shooting is finished and the cool season 

 has set in, crocodile-hunting commences, for at this time these reptiles sleep on the 

 islands, where the females watch over their eggs, which are deeply buried in the 

 sand. As soon as a native hunter has discovered the haunt of a crocodile, he digs 

 a hole and heaps up the sand on the side of the island where the creature has 

 been last seen ; and in this hole he hides when the crocodile creeps to its favourite 

 spot, where it soon falls asleep in the heat of the sun. Immediately the watcher 

 steals quietly up, and thrusts a spear into the reptile's body between the legs. 

 The spear, or harpoon, is not heavy, and is fastened to a cord at the other end of 

 which is a block of wood to serve as a float. The line consists of forty or fifty 

 thin loose strands in order to prevent its being bitten through, and to allow it to slip 

 into the gaps between the teeth of the crocodile. The hunter follows the float as 

 it swims on the water, and tries to guide the crocodile close to the shore by pulling 

 at the rope. Other men join in the pursuit and use their harpoons until finally 

 the reptile is dragged on to the sand, where, if it is intended to keep it alive, its jaws 

 are tied together, its legs strapped to its back, and an iron ring driven through 

 its nose. 



vol. in. — 3 



