122 TRAPPING WILD ‘ANIMALS 
news travels in the jungle. Many times, in break- 
ing through virgin country, I have found that the 
news of my coming had preceded me and that the 
natives knew all about me and were waiting for 
me. The only explanation I could ever get was 
simply, “Tuan, we heard.” 
A good opportunity to impress the natives pre- 
sented itself one day when I was preparing to take 
a plunge in the river. Munshee stopped me, say- 
ing: “Take care, sir. There are crocodiles in the 
river.” He told me that many natives had lost 
their lives recently and that men had had their 
arms snapped off while they were paddling boats. 
I took his advice and went to the house where my 
supplies were stored. Presently I returned with 
a stick of dynamite and a fuse. Gathering the 
natives around me, I explained to them that they 
were to line the banks of the river and prepare to 
come out in their boats when I gave the signal. 
They were entirely mystified, for they had never 
heard of dynamite. 
Going up-stream, I prepared the charge and then 
drifted down, dropping it over. Wide-eyed and 
puzzled, they watched the smoking fuse disappear 
into the water. Then came a muffled explosion, 
which made them jump; the water trembled, shak- 
ing the boats and frightening them; fish came to 
the surface. I signaled and the scramble to gather 
the fish began. 
Ali was standing near me, ready to put the rifle 
