The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-04-02
N ILL-OMENED PLACE.
WITH PET cRocoDILEs In AN
INDIAN PALACE.
what Completed the Horror OF = Fright
full spectAois--A strange Taste
which Finds Pets In
Crawling Reptiles.

OF all the experiences which have
fallen to the lot OF my wife and my
sclf one Of the most memorable was
certainly that which befell us In the
Indian city OF Jeypoor. or Jypoor.
Now i think OF it" said my wife
as we sat at breakfast In the veranda
of the snug little hotel this is the
place where the reigning Maharajah
10 said to keep tank full OF pet
crocodiles In his palace. We might
60 and see them"
A few minutes later we were at the
main entrance OF the palace itself
Even without its wonderful accumula-
ton OF striking details the mere
height and size OF the great structure
would have sufficed TO make 1t re.
markable. EEM
When we stood In the middle of the
inner courtyard and looked upward.
we saw above us seemingly endless
mass OF carved battlements. marble
columns clustering turrets curtained
balconies. flower. crowned terraces
sculptured cornices and brightly paint
ed walls piled up against the clear.
blue sky like ridges Of some mighty
mountain. while high over all this
blaze OF many colored glory foated
the golden standard Of Jeypoor.
But all this time there was no sign
Of the famous pet crocodiles of which
we had heard SO much. and we were
Just beginning to wonder whether
they might not be- after ALL mere
Travellers tale when our Hindoo guide
suddenly hurried us with marked alac-
rity up broad marble stair on to a
raised terrace nearly midway along
the garden face OF the palace and
then. leading us forward to a low,
white parapet that ran along the fur
ther side OF the terrace ITSELF pointed
over it and babe us look down.
At the sight of the horrible pit
below we both drew back with an ir-
repressible start and CULVER of disgust
What we beheld was just what we
had expected. and had come purpose
ly to see; but so frightful was the sud-
den revelation OF this foul, Shiny pool
crawling with monstrous and hideous
reptiles in the very midst OF this
splendid palace that had we seen
swine wallowing in fashionable
drawing room we could hardly have
been more utterly startled and
shocked.
The beautiful white walls over
which we were leaning inclosed a
black. dismal swamp of thick. muddy
;ifeless water. from the Shiny depths
OF which steamed upward through the
hot breathless air. a sickening stencil
OF rank foulness and decay. Above
the thick. oily surface low banks OF
glistening black mud rose every here
and there and on that congenial couch
lay basking the horrible reptiles which
the Maharajah's strange taste had
preserved and nourished as pets.
Some lay outstretc ed on the mud
banks in the full glare OF the sun,
torpid as gorged snakes but giving q
sudden snap with their cruel jaws
ever and anon as II they were dream.
ing OF tearing some living victim to
pieces. Others were wallowing in
the sullen waters. above which moth
ing could be seen but their scaly
shouts and long. saw-like tails.
just below us the hugest OF these
foul creatures lay asleep on an islet OF
mud half in the water and half out.
Wishing to stir it up. threw a large
stone at It which rebounded from its
scaly back like hailstone from roof,
but the monster never moved.
Then two OF the Hindoos, seeing
what we were at joined in the bonn
bardment so Justify that the mud bank
was studded like an almond cake with
stones of all sizes; but to all appear
ances we might have built an entire
house upon the phlegmatic crocodile
without disturbing it in the least
At that moment a tiny English
child. having escaped from its ayah
(native nurse) while the latter was
engaged watching the crocodiles
scrambled up the parapet that over
hung the tank. 1t was horrible to
see how. the moment the poor little
girl appeared. the whole surface be-
low was alive with tapping tails and
Gaping jaws as the monsters caught
sight OF prospective prey. Scared by
the tumult the child grew dizzy stag
gered forward. and in another instant
would have fallen into the terrible
pool when one OF the Maharajah's
native gardeners an active young
fellow, sprang forward and clutched
her by the arm just in time.
''Crocodiles know how man flesh
taster' said tall gaunt Punjabi be-
sideus. when old Maharajah reign.
that time plenty man throw in here;
crocodiles plenty much fat-aha!"
This speech, and the CHASTITY grin
that accompanied it. was all that was
needed to complete the horror OF this
frightful spectacle; and, turning away
with q shudder we hurried from the
ill-omened spot as fast as we could. 4
A New Use for Enrs.s