34 



RECREATION 



A HIDE MERCHANT 



sturdy, teutonic John Helmer took the 

 oars of his "pinnish" and swung down 



in his stomach to prevent the collapse 

 of that useful organ, has always been 

 a prized memory. During this season 

 long poles armed with a hook are used 

 in probing where bubbles come to the 

 surface. 



The torpid brutes move on being 

 touched, and frequently bite the hook. 



Two men grapple the creature with 

 two hooks, lift him to the side of the 

 canoe and hit him with a tomahawk. 



The hide is cut around the bony 

 edge of the back, stripped off the belly 

 and legs, salted and sold to the buyer. 

 The musk and oil are sold as by-prod- 

 ucts. The teeth go the same way, 

 eventually to be mounted and placed in 

 the mouths of teething babes. 



The habitually sluggish, placid swim- 



a sluggish stream, under cypresses and mer and basker is swift and expert when 

 oaks, due south. I took my trick at the feeding. His powerful tail serves to 

 oars, and enjoyed tales of hid- 

 den treasure, of pirates and 

 slave-traders, of great hunts, of 

 tigers, geese, ducks and rep- 

 tiles. The tenderfoot hears 

 many strange stories tinc- 

 tured by the enlarging imag- 

 ination of lonely woodsmen. 

 If John had brought in half 

 'the number of treasures of 

 hides and flesh that he 

 claimed, and been paid a fair 

 price, why should he now 

 slave for a poor man like me ? 



Descriptions of animals and 

 their habits, unconnected with 

 deeds of prowess of the nar- 

 rator, are of interest, and these I try flip raccoons, muskrats and birds into 

 to believe. For instance, John's his maw, or, with open jaws and lying 

 account of the winter hunt when the upon his side, schools of small fish are 

 alligator hibernates in the muddy bot- gratefully received. 



torn, with chunks of wood, coal and mud The love of pork has caused a price 



to be put upon his head. I 

 was v told of his attempting to 

 climb into pig-styes, where 

 cautious farmers take the 

 trouble to keep their property 

 , away from the shores. I have 

 -jS*^-****"' seen the crocodile stand and 



walk like a dog, and was told 

 ^. - " that he is a good runner, al- 



though that is hard to believe. 

 the skinning process Fortunately human flesh does 



AFTER THE HUNTER, BUZZARDS AND ANTS 

 HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL 





