330 
THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE . 
it has been subjected to such persecution, that its numbers have been con¬ 
siderably diminished. It haunts the lakes and rivers, where it swims well 
and with some speed. As is the case with most aquatic tortoises, it is car¬ 
nivorous, and feeds on fish, reptiles, and other creatures, which it captures 
by a sudden snap of its sharp beak. In general, it appears not to care for 
chasing its intended prey, but conceals itself among the reeds and herbage 
of the river-side, and from its hiding-place thrusts out its neck suddenly upon 
its victims as they pass unsuspectingly within reach of their destroyer. On 
occasion, however, it will issue from its concealment, dart rapidly through 
the water and seize a fish, reptile, or even a water-fowl, and then retire with 
its prey to its former hiding-place. 
It is a large and formidable creature, attaining, when adult, to a length 
of three feet. 
The manner in which the marine tortoises are caught on the coast of 
Cuba, and at places on the South American continent is of peculiar interest. 
It is the custom of the sailors in search of the turtle to watch for the female 
as she goes on shore to deposit her eggs, and in spite of the night and her 
efforts at concealment, she very seldom escapes. The fishers are particu¬ 
larly successful on moonlight nights, and when the poor creatures are come 
up with, they are either dispatched with a club or turned quickly on their 
backs before they have time to defend themselves, or blind their antagonists 
by throwing sand in their eyes. When very large it requires several men 
and the use of hand-spikes and levers to turn a turtle over. The marine 
turtle is so fat and its buckler so flat, that once on its back it cannot recover 
the use of its feet and escape. 
The great Indian tortoise or elephant tortoise inhabits the islands in 
Mozambique Channel, and is frequently brought to Mauritius. Its entire 
length is about four feet; the shell, which measures three, is composed of 
twenty-four scales. This tortoise is very fond of water, drinking large quan¬ 
tities and wallowing in the mud. The larger islands alone produce springs, 
and these are always situated towards the central parts, and at a considerable 
elevation. Hence broad and well-beaten paths radiate in every direction 
from the wells, even down to the seacoast; and the Spaniards, by following 
these up, first discovered the watering places. 
When I landed at Chatham Island, I could not imagine what animal 
traveled so methodically along the well-beaten tracks. Near the springs 
it was a curious spectacle to behold many of these great monsters, one set 
