52 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR, 
or in a season, by one animal; the natives say, 44 many, 
very manybetween fifty and sixty have been found in 
one animal. They begin to lay their eggs in August, 
when the summer is coming on ; hence it appears, that rain, 
and the consequent obscuration of the sun’s rays, do not 
destroy the vitality of the egg. 
The crocodiles are known to be afraid of noise, or any 
disturbance of the water; they flee into their recesses at the 
sound of thunder, and agitation of wind. Hence the natives 
are but rarely attacked by them, as they beat the water 
with long poles, and make a great noise. By using such 
means of deterring the crocodiles, they generally swim their 
herds of bullocks over the river in safety; and sometimes 
after one has disappeared, he is recovered by the terrific 
animals releasing him before any material injury is done. 
Yet, when pressed by hunger, the crocodiles become more 
audacious, and are said to approach near enough to be seen 
by persons fording a river, when they are only kept off 
by the travellers beating the water with spears on each 
side as they pass, at the same time shouting and hallooing 
with all their might. 
That these means are not always sufficient, is clearly 
shown by the following account, given by Mr. Hastie, of 
the passage of a number of cattle over the Betsiboka 
river, in 1824.” 
44 A company of soldiers were sent across the river, 
with orders to fire blank cartridge, to prevent the cro¬ 
codiles attacking the bullocks, and a similar fire was kept 
up on the side from whence they embarked. The endea¬ 
vours of the parties thus employed, though unremitting, 
did not, however, prevent these bold animals, with which 
the river abounds, from seizing, and regaling themselves 
on, the cattle: some herds suffered a loss of three, some 
