Chapt. xtii. Night-lines for crocodiles. 225 



twenty pieces of common twine tied together at the ends, 

 but not twisted at all. These will get between his teeth, 

 and escape being bitten, and their united strength will 

 hold him fast enough. Bait the hook, which must be a 

 large and very strong one, with a bull frog, or a fowl's 

 entrails, or any meat, and push the whole out into the 

 lake, pool, or ditch, in which the crocodiles are, and leave 

 it for the night. If there is a slight current, it is easy 

 enough to attach a stone, by way of anchor, by a long 

 string to the other end of the bamboo, and to drop it in. 

 The line between the bamboo and the hook being so short, 

 the bait is kept near the surface, and is not liable to be 

 concealed amongst weeds etc. at the bottom; when the 

 crocodile takes the bait and turns down with it, the short- 

 ness of the line, and the ready opposition of the floating 

 bamboo, quickly strikes the hook into him, and the more 

 he tries to get down the more stoutly the bamboo resists 

 him, for it is full of air from end to end, and is a very 

 powerful buoy. As long as he keeps to the water the 

 bamboo plays him well, and if he tries the land he will 

 soon be brought up with a round turn by the bamboo 

 getting hitched amongst bushes. 



I have been told that good fun can be had out of the 

 crocodile by baiting as above in the day time, and setting 

 a man to watch from a distance in concealment. The 

 man must be very still, and well concealed, and at a 

 distance, or not a crocodile will be hooked, for they are 

 very wary. Directly one is hooked he gives the inform- 

 ation. Then into small boats quick, one man in each 



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