Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-04-09

| NCAt udy tAo SAINT CercHOH1cS WeF6
repeated. The day after, about o'clock
in the morning, we arrived at the shores
! of little lake. about two and half
miles in circumference, which had been
our point Of destination, and which, we
were assured, was haunted by innumer-
able crocodiles.
Our camp was pitched on the western
shore of the lake, and preparations to
catch the great saurians were immedi-
ately begun.
The minister, by order Of Norodom,
placed the chief of the hunters 'sunder
my orders. That signifed that he was
to keep me perfectly well informed
about everything which might take
place.
The chief conducted me some distance
to the right of the camp, and showed
me a company Of some fifty Cambodians
busy binding together number of
smooth planks by means of bamboo
ropes.
About twenty of these RATS 4 cannot
tell them by any other name which ex-
presses their form equally welD were soon
finished.
Near by a number Of other men were
engaged in preparing strong running
nooses, made also Of bamboo filaments.
After inspecting these raft and moose
factories, the chief took forty men with
him. and all of US skirting the lake.
made our way to its eastern bank.
The most absolute silence was enioined
upon all
On reaching the southwestern part of
the shore, the chief, whom l followed
closely, approached the bank. In an
swer to my question, he said:
"Thouann, am looking for the slid
ing paths Of the croccdiles-the places
they choose for leaving the water and
climbing upon the shore. see" he OBJ
served, suddenly pointing. to declivity
trampled smooth-as level as if heavy
cannon had been constantly rolled over
it, "there's where they come out. If we
can notice him, the one who comes here
will not be easy to nail.
Nail2 / only wondered in my mind, but
my eyes must have been like two points
Of interrogation. for the chief of the
hunters added after looking at me mo-
ment: "Yes, NALL You are going to
see something you never saw before in
your life."
He posted q sails at this path, and VIC
continued our inspection. Thirty points
were chosen, and thirty men were sta
toned at them
Before turning back to camp said to
the chief:
s'But I have not noticed single
wrinkle on the water-are you sure there
are any crocodiles?"
He did not answer; but takinga piece
of wood, he wrapped it in bit Of red
cloth and flung it about twenty yards out
into the water.
Fifteen seconds passed-a few wave
lets appeared on the still mirror of the
lake; there was a sort of dull sound,
followed by great shock in the water
I could not see anything distinctly; but
the wood wrapped in red cloth had dis
appeared.
We returned to the raftmaking estab-
lishment. Thirty rafts-ffteen feet long
by about four broad-were ready. A
hundred running nooses were also pre-
pared for operations.
At a signal from the leader all the men
not on duty as soldiers followed him.
Each raft was carried by four men, while
about dozen followed us with the
ropes. Tomorrow morning the bats, y
said the chief, will be attsched to the
rafts-about o'clock-quarters of
meat
We came to the first crocodile bank,
and preparations were made to place the
first strap in position.
Four men laid the raft on the bank.
and then gently pushed it down the
slope till the further end was about two
feet under water. This bank-like all
other spots chosen-was overshadowed
by tree, in which one of the Cambod-
ians will be stationed On the lake-end
of the raft large running moose was
attached, intended to catch the croco-
dile's tail; on the upper end second
moose was placed to seize the crocodiles
head. The nooses are operated by long
strings, which were so arrnged as to be
pulled at the proper moment by the man
perched in the tree.
These arrangements being completed,
preparations were made for the night.
Fires were lighted behind each trap
to keep the crocodiles in the water until
dawn, when the hunt was to begin.
At four in the morning, Norodom, his
AnAHASVcis, VIC CouItIeIs, anu tne invited
guests, are all awakened. From his
elevated cabin the king can get a good
view Of the capture Of the crocodiles.
His guests, all armed with lances, take
their way to the western bank of the
lake.
All around the lake, the sails are posted
in their respective trees; the RATS are
baited; the fires are put out.
About six or seven PAGES from each
raft, little to one side, crouches a sais
armed with mallet, and great sharp
nails from eight to ten inches long.
Absolute calm everywhere. The day
breaks. The crocodiles, which have
been imprisoned in their slime for tvven-