SEA TRAGEDYi OF THE JUNGLE FOLK 123 
into my hands, and I strained my eyes, looking for 
crocodiles. Suddenly a woman pointed to the op- ° 
posite bank and screamed, “Budia (crocodile) !” 
I yelled to Munshee to take his men down-stream 
and keep them quiet and on the alert; then I directed 
my boat above the spot where the woman had 
pointed. I dropped another stick of dynamite over- 
board. A few seconds later, the belly of a crocodile 
appeared on the surface, its feet and tail moved 
feebly. It was stunned by the explosion—mdabok 
(drunk), as the natives say 
I took my gun and put two bullets into its belly. 
Before it could sink, Ali grabbed its tail; then we 
made for the shore. The natives gathered about, 
wildly excited, and Mahommed Munshee was the 
proudest man in the village. He had vouched for 
my abilities and I had proved my possession of 
the powers that he claimed for me. It was hobat-an 
(magic). 
The crocodile measured fifteen feet, four inches, 
and was twenty-five years old. The natives could 
tell its age by counting the pebbles in its pouch. 
I decided to stop at Munshee’s a few days longer, 
to have the men gather rattan to make the nets, 
and also to talk with the natives about orang- 
outangs and plan all the details of the capture. 
Omar, the other headman, went on up to his vil- 
lage, taking with him as much of our store of 
provisions as he could carry. I was willing enough 
to have him spread the crocodile story among the 
