CROCODILES.
Long before the advent of man upon the globe, there was a period when
huge crocodiles swarmed in the rivers of the temperate zones. The
diminished heat of the temperate regions of the earth, as we know them
to-day, has driven these scourges of all that live in the waters they
frequent into the great rivers and lagoons of the torrid zone.
The crocodile is characterized by the depressed head, so indicative of a
low order of intelligence; the vast jaw, which, armed with formidable
rows of conical teeth, seems designed to snatch and to swallow; and the
elongated, mud-colored body, with its long lizard-like tail, resting on
short legs. These all stamp him with a peculiar ugliness and
frightfulness.
The female crocodile generally lays her eggs, like the sea turtle, in a
hole in the sand, and leaves them to be hatched by the potent rays of a
tropical sun. These eggs are about the size of those of a goose, and are
covered with a limy shell.
The young of the crocodile have numerous enemies. Many an egg is
destroyed by the smaller flesh-eating animals, or by birds, before it
can be hatched in the hot sand. Even if the eggs hatch, no sooner do the
young creep out of the broken shells and instinctively move towards the
water, than the ichneumon, a species of weasel, and the long-legged
heron make haste to swallow them; hence their span of life is not
usually a long one.
Should they escape these enemies and take refuge in the water, they
become the prey of the different sharp-toothed fishes. Even the
full-grown crocodile, in spite of its bony covering, is not exempt from
attack. Like many other of the lower animals, when surprised, it
endeavors to escape by feigning death. Crocodiles are very numerous in
the river Shire. On one occasion some travelers on board a small vessel
counted sixty-seven of them basking in the sun on the same bank.
Women, while drawing water, are sometimes seized by these creatures, and
the protection of a fence is required to keep the crocodiles from the
river's brink. It is the scourge of the lakes and rivers wherever it is
found. Like the eagle among birds, or the lion among beasts, so is the
crocodile among reptiles.
Its main food consists of fishes, various aquatic birds, and such
animals as it can seize along the borders of the water. It is not only a
powerful foe but a cunning one as well.
Like the various carnivorous animals, it can, though a reptile, fast in
its aquatic home for weeks and even months without apparent
inconvenience. When opportunity offers, it becomes a veritable glutton,
and is then indolent and torpid at the close of its meal.
It is when excited by hunger that the crocodile displays its great force
and activity. Wherever a river enters a lake, or where a lake empties
its waters into some larger body, there the ugly reptile may be found
lurking, on the watch for fish. As these pass in the rapidly moving
waters, it darts upon them with astonishing velocity.
Again, it conceals itself near where animals have their favorite
drinking spot, and rushes out upon the unsuspecting creatures as they
approach the water's edge. In the same way it seizes upon the various
water birds; often it swims quietly and warily under them and pulls them
down by their legs.
Sometimes the crocodile is carried inland by floods, but, as a general
rule, it does not advance far on shore in search of prey. On land it is
not difficult to escape from its attack; for its legs are poorly fitted
for running and the construction of its neck is such as to prevent its
turning easily from one side to the other when in pursuit of a victim.
Winter is the most favorable time for catching the crocodile; then it
may be found on the sand banks basking in the warm rays of the sun.
Spring, too, is a favorable season, for the mother reptile keeps watch
over the sand hills where she has deposited her eggs; and the native who
is so successful as to discover this place digs a hole in the sand to
the leeward and throws up the earth on the side from which he expects
the crocodile to approach. He then conceals himself and awaits its
coming. If the reptile has failed to observe him, it soon comes to the
accustomed spot and falls asleep. The native huntsman then throws his
harpoon with all his might into the creature; for, to make the stroke
successful, the iron of the harpoon must penetrate to the depth of four
inches. As soon as it is wounded, it rushes into the water. Then the
huntsman retreats to the canoe, which a companion has brought to his
aid.
When a crocodile is struck by the harpoon, it lashes violently with its
tail and tries to bite the rope in two. To prevent such a thing
happening, the rope is not woven, but consists of about thirty separate
fine lines bound together at intervals of every two feet. These separate
lines often get between the creature's teeth or become tangled about
them.
As it moves through the water, a piece of wood attached by a long cord
to the harpoon swims upon the surface; this serves to indicate the
direction the creature is taking. By pulling upon the rope the natives
drag the crocodile to the surface and soon pierce it by a second spear.
It frequently happens, however, that the harpoon is pulled out of its
body, and thus the prize escapes.
In some of the rivers of Africa the natives are very bold and skillful
in attacking the crocodile in the water. Their mode is to arm themselves
with a short dagger, dive beneath the reptile, and plunge the weapon
into its body. Often the combat becomes a very fierce one, and the only
chance of escape on the part of the native is to force his dagger, or,
if by any misfortune he has lost this, to thrust his thumbs into the
reptile's eyes with all his strength, thus causing great pain and loss
of sight.
Among the ancient Egyptians the crocodile was an object of worship, and
thus held sacred. In consequence of this idolatry, it became very bold
and troublesome. Had it not been for its natural enemy, the ichneumon,
this reptile would have increased to an alarming extent in the Nile
countries.