The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-12-02
CROCODILE HUNTING.
CRoCODILR LlFR II SOUTH ANERICA.

While walking along the banks OF the
Portuguese one may see these huge lizards
collected in groups OF half dozen or more
basking in the sunshine near the water,
with their jaws wide open till their ghastly
palaies are filled with flies or other creatures
alightng within them. We tried in vain
shooting them with guns the reptiles ere
so wary that the moment we took aim they
rushed into the water. Being al loss how
20 procure subject for my pencil, sought
the advice OF an old man, an angler by pro-
fession, who lived in one OF the huts near
the river. He agreed to let me have his
canoe, with his son 10 paddle it, and the re-
quisi,e number of harpoons, providing
| could obtain the assistance of an Indian
boy from the neighborhood, who was a
capital marksman with the bow and ar
row.
What exclaimed in establishment; sdo
we expect to kill one of these monsters
with SO slight thing as an arrow g No,
Sci orito,' he exclaimed but you rnusi
first know where to find him under water
before you can strike him with the har.
poon the arrow oil which ! speak we use
in catching turtles.'
These arrows are constructed so as 10 al
low the head affixed to the shat: some-
| what in the manner of lance, to come of
the moment it strikes an object in the water
A slender cord several feet in length, con-
meets it with the shaft, which last is made
OF light, enoyani reed around this the
cord Is wound closely until il reaches the
| point where The head is, then fastened se-
cufeIy. The shaft being extremely light,
| floats on the surface OF the water the mo-
menl il is sci free from the head of the ami
NAL thus acting as guide for its recovery.
The old angler thea proceeded 10 explain
that The operation must be conducted first
by sending one of these arrows into the
/ body of the crocadile to mark his position
under water and then il practicable, we
! might plunge harpoon into the only vul
nerable spot we could hope 10 reach, viz
the nap OF the neck, after which the animal
could be easily dragged on shore By means
of strong ropes attached to the harpoon.
Accordingly, went in search of the In
diao boy, whom found under a tree,
sealed like toad on his launches, skim
ming porcupine he had just killed. At
my approach he raised his head and fixed
on me his unmeaning eyes. When spoken
10, ts only replied TO all my questions with
The monosyllables ST, no. Alter a little coax.
ing, and the promise o! some fish hooks,
he followed me 10 the canoe without utter
| ing word more.
We were not long iu getting chance TO
test the skill Of my new acquaintance. As
we approached the river banks aIarge croc-
odile hove in sight, floating down the stream
like log oil wood. Our position was most
| favorable TO send an arrow ratteling through
his scales, and my young Nimrod lost no
time in improving the opportunity. Step
piag a few PAGES in advance, and bending
gracefully over The precipice, he let hy al
the reptiles head his slender, yellow reed,
por elevdcion, viz shooting the arrow mp in
to The air at an angle of forty five degrees,
which causes il to descend with great force
upon the object. after describing an arc of a
circle in the manner OF bomb she'll
Although the distance was fully three
hundred PAGES, the arrow struck the mark
with the precision of a rife ball. A violent
plunge of the huge reptile was the first inti-
nation that the trial had been successful,
and the moment after perceived the golden
reed, now attached to him, skimming swift
Iy over The surface of the water. We hast
ened for the canoe and Immediately gave
chase up stream, as the crocodile bad taken
that direction. We were rapidly gaining
upon him, when, alarmed at the sound of
the paddles, he sank in very deep water,
as we indicated by The reed. This circum-
stance rendered il impossible 10 employ our
harpoon. We tried in vain to start him ;
he siuck to the muddy bottom, whence
neither pulls nor curses could move him.
We hoped that in time he would come to
the snrface 10 breathe, and then We might
strike him with harpoon but in this we
were equally disappointed.
After waiting for him two hours, we gave
him up, along with the arrow head sticking
in his own body. made various other at
tempis TO secure specimen, but with no
better result, as the river was yet loo high
to sound Tor them.
While in this place was told several in
cidents in relation TO the cunning and in
slnct of these saurians, one of which ap-
peafed to be most remarkable in an animal
of the reptile tribe. The fenyman here pos
eessed great many goats. One day he
perseived that several of them had disaP-
pearsd, and, not being able TO account for
il in any other way, he at once laid the
blame on the hated crocodiIes, although
these creatures seldom carry their attacks
beyond their own element. His srlspicions,
be discovered in the end, were well found-
ed, having Witnessed the destruction Of one
of his goats in q very singular manner. Il