The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-30
tnformatiom.
A Wonderful Crocodile Pond.

an account of his visit to the famous Mugger-
Herr. or crocodile pond of India, which wonder
he describes follow:
The pond is about three hundred yards in cir.
conference, and contains many little grassy is
lands on which the majority of the crocodiles
were then basking; some were asleep on its
Shiny sides, others half submerged in the mud
DIV water, while now and then huge monster
would raise himself upon his diminutive legs,
and waddling for few PAGES, fall fiat on his
belly Young ones, from foot in length and
upwards, ran nimly along the margin OF the
pond, disappearing suddenly in the turbid wafer
as soon as we approached. The largest croco-
diles live IN long, narrow tank, separate nom
the others. The Fakirs, and natives who wor-
ship in the neighborng temples. have painted
his forehead red--they yenerate the old monster,
making salaam TO his majesty whenever he
shows himself above water. y handsome young
Beloochee whose occupation was to feed the anl-
mails. informed us that the said king was up
ward Of two hundred years old q and that by
way of ''tit-bit," he in the habit OF deyour-
ing the young crocodiles. During our visit this
enormous brute was asleep on the bank OF dis
dwelling place, and seemed quite indifferent TO
our presence, although we came within loot OF
him, and even attempted to rouse him by rnh-
bling his nose with leg of goats flesh, which,
however. young one seized and dived under
the water. Our attendent tried i'll vain to arouse
their ferocity, but beyond a feeble attempt to
snap their trenchant teeth the animal showed
no disposition to attack us. A pony was feeding
about in the pond, and feeding on the grassy
hillocks but the crocodiles took notice of HIM
The water in the pond felt cold, although fed by
two hot springs one Of which was OF so ltEa q
temperature that could not retain my hand in II ;
yet animal life existed, for l found where the
water bubbled up from its sandy bottom, aud lsl
the feeder running to the tank, abundant OF
oh No Ia tI a. lie
freshing bath in the reservoir close by; The tenn
perature though not so high as the last, was still
warm and pleasant | should be sorry, hoWe'er,
to repeat the experiment, and not from The
chances of meeting with crocodile (for believe
the Fakirs of the temple guard well aganst such
a0cidents,) but from the circumstances that as
generally the case all over the East lepers and
persons affected with lOathsome diseases repair
to such localities.
The crocodiles dig deep into the sand, under
the neighboring date trees and there deposit
their eggs Quantities of decidiuOus teeth, OF
various sizes, were strewn along the Shiny sides
the pond. Strangers are expected to stand tleat,
not only by the Fakirs and natives, who ga
livelihood by hanging about the pond and aow-
ing the monsters, but even the crocodile thcni-
selves seem to anticipate feast and on the alri-
val of party come out IN unusual numbers.
Accordingly we bad a goat slaughtered, during
which operation the brutes seemed to rouse t1.u-
selves as if prepared for rush. Then our -1l r.,
taking piece after piece Of the flesh, dashed l
the bank, uttering growing sound at aa
the whole tank became in motion, and croco
whose existence we had before been ignor,
splashed through the shallow water, strut
which should secure the prize The shol
literally covered with the scaly monster,
ping their jaws at one another. They SEIZE
food with the side of the mouth, and tos>
head backward that it may fall into the thra
few were observed to bolt their portion he
shore after slight mastication, but the ma Pity,
anxious to escape from their greedy companions,
made instantly for the water and disappo3r,l
with the piece OF flesh sticking between tae.r
jaws. Our young BenoOch friend inform E
that they generally swallow their food n 9n
and do not, as has been asserted. bury it ',' b g
become putrid, also that other large ind
besides the old king frequently devour tn
soon after they are Matched. Crocodiles
ing the mud Of the Nile, or gavials in tn
are sights which one is prepared to enc
but the traveller may wander far b.
meets with scene so strange and uneXp,
that just described How these animal
their way inland to this solitary oasis
not discover. 1t can only be surmised tn
had probably been introduced by the ma
The dramatiza5on of Beecher's "Nor
comes in for unanimous ridcule. Ono
pendent says: The breakdown whioa
Jennie Worrell dances is well planned; bu
performance on the tight rope by one %. aa
modest deacons Of Plymouth Church in
tights, could scarcely save the place. To have
dragged in cow even by the horns, closing
the last act with grand milking scene by way
Of final tableau, would have been good idea and
quite fine effect might have been produced by
having the COW kick over the pail, particularly
if she projected it into parquette; but this does
not seem to have occurred to Mr.. Beecher.
Another correspondent writes: l went to see
Norwood lastnight, and can vouch for the follow
ing analysis Of its contents as perfectly correct
Total number of Damn 10
. Total number Of "By gollies," ID
Sentences eulosistic of the negro, >
Ditto condemnatory Of the South, 20
Taking the Lords name in vain, times, .
Puffs Of New England, so
Puffs of Major Anderson, 3
Puffs of ''the boys at Fort Sumter Z
Shoddy speeches at Gettysburg, 5
Cheers for Abraham Lincoln, =
Smutty illusions, 10
Plagiarisms from Bouccault, 8
Plagiarisms from other people, s
Bad Jokes 1
Good jokes o
Total, 1876
"A Josh House In Oregon.