The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-16
Catching Crocodiles.

-Nfd,pcr'S Weekly.
Catching Crocodiles.
le New Orleans Times Democrat
,lates from a French journal the fol-
ne description of the singular man
n which crocodiles are captured in
bodia:
d the 10th of February, 1878, after a
voyage through Burmah, Tenasrim,
the Kingdom of Siam, | reached
r-Penh, capitol of the Kingdom Of
bodia.
bore with me letter to King Moro
. will spare you all descriptions
nom PENN, as we'll as of my recep-
by h s majesty. What l promised
Ias the history of a crocodile hunt
3 it is:
Sad been we'll received at court.
8 4having been kindly treated by the
all his ministers did their utmost
We me pleasant welcome. Several
knts had been placed at my disposal,
also one of the court carriages with
d team of thoroughbred Birmanese
Rs.
I'D not fail to inform my hosts of
nssion for the chase, and for three
fhs they had spoiled me like child.
n day some hunting party or other
been arranged for my benefit. From
elicourvi-a peculiar sort of little
(which l never saw anywhere else
"a among the lakes and shallow
3 of Siam or Cambodia-to the
iger itself, l had hunted almost
tort of creature.
morning on returning from my
Irive l found awaiting me the sais
prime minister, who said to ne:
be, Thouannr' Good day, my
h5e, Sais.' Good day, servltor) 1
d. who sends you!"
b master invites you to call upon
brthwith, at his palace"
prthwith-now!"
rs, my lord"
Ego."
II ordering my coachman to follow
is, who had started off at run, l
pund his exccllency awaiting me
threshold of his dwelling
kcuse me-" he said, "if | have dis
you; but acted by the kings
His majesty invites you to
ile hunt. We shall be absent at
be week"
enked.his excellcncy and promised
Rt his house by ) o'clock next
: g, whence we should so together
palace to join the caravan of
30 o'clock next morning we ar
the courtyard of the palace. A
my of servants had already COM
u necessary preparations. The
carriages, elephants, and palan-
! @btined for the use of Norodom,
1assts, and his wives, were all then
1e palace front. Further off was
train of wagons frcighted with
pms and supplies, as well as the
pd p!anking required for our tenn.
quarters.
id not really seem as though we
Ioing to hunt, but to war The
minister left me in the midst of
Dwd and fastened to reioin the
precisely 5 o'clock Norodom ap-
~ surrounded by the high officials
a5s household. All those present
q down or prostrated themselves. l
off my hat.
4fodom, | must confess, descended
elace steps with real majesty. His
keen awaited him, he got into it,
eis various wives got into other sim
pnveyances prepared for them.
soon as the king and his wives
ln their vehicles. the rest of those
ed to the privilege of driving or
mounted their horses or their
fances, and the whole royal suite.
1slng more than three hundred per-
ot which number about one hun
nd fifty were footmen. and twenty
pre- soldiers, armed in European
-. proceeded on its way.
"a o'clock we made the first halt: at
ght another halt, followed by din
nd the inevitable siesta. At q
we halted for the night. Then
hg's men proceeded to erect the
in which his majesty was to re-
or tie night-a sort of immense
Elevated upon posts six feet above
il. Below this cage was another
ure for the kings harem. The
E-five soldiers formed circle
this portable palace, and kept all
Ft of us at a distance from it.
fires were then lighted in circle
the whole encampment to keep
Fous wild beasts at distance. The
g's meal was prepared. At 8
the sentirels were posted, the
ed with plenty of wood, and we
wn and slept without paying any
ION to the roaring of the tigers.
It day the same ceremonies were
ed. The day after, about 9 O'Clock
morning, we arrived at the shores
title lake, about two and a half
q circumference, which had been
INT OF destination, and which, we
ssured, was haunted by innumer-
ocodiles.
camp was pitched on the western
the lake, and preparations to
ne great saurians were immedi-
egun.
Glnlster, by order of Norodom,
ne chief of the hunters ''under
IS. That signified that he was
me perfectly well informed
everything which might take