The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-15
HUNTING CROCODILES
IN THE WEST INDIES
By WILLIAM THORP.
OK pom him, sab! Shoot quick, sahr'

ut OOK pom him, sab! Shoot quick, sahp
My negro boatman pointed excitedy through
- an opening in the mangrove bushes; and there
upon the Shiny bank of the creek, l saw big
crocodile basking in the SUM- still as log and looking
very much like one But for the wicked twinkle in its
black beady eyes, could hardly have told that it was
alive
Resting my rifle on the gunwale Of the boat-a 1qbt
dug-out canoe took careful aim and sent heavv
bullet through the creatures skull.
Alter few struggles it slipped off the edge of the
bank in its death-agony and sank in the muddy waters
Bother it, Lost the skin again" I muttered "We1I
never fish that fellow up"
So it proved After several vain attempts, my boat
man had to give up the task and we returned home
dlsgusted, without any trophy of hunting
ms IS TAR example Of crocodile hunt in Jamaica
and other West Indian islands where crocodes are found
There are good many of them in the swamps and
creeks adjoining the harbor of Kingston the capital ii
Jamaica, and also in some of the Jamaican rivers; but
they are always exceedingly wary, and the hunter has
10 stalk them carefully in order to get enough for
a successful shot.
And when the creature is shot, ten to one it sinks
and the skin cannot be recovered
SMALL black-headed plover may usually be seen
perched upon the thick ridge running along the croco
dies back This bird plays towards the crocodile verv
much the same part as the pilot fish plays towards the
1t leads its prey and warns it Of the approach Of
Danger by uttering shrill cry. Then the crocodile
owes 20 the potion, and you may sit in your boat and
nurse your rifle for half hour without the
The Jamaican crocodile is shyer Of man than almost
any other living creature, and the hunter often spends
the whole day rowing creeks and catching malaria
IN mosqmo-haunted swamps without getting with
III rlHe-shOt
There many ways of shooting crocodes. but all
OF them demand the best qualities of the SPORTSMAN
Pauence vigilance and instant readiness to seize the
Some hunters believe in stalking through the man
grove bushes that line the agoons, others in waiting up
tree with their rifles ready to shoot the first snout
that above the water and others again believe in
padding silently through the creeks in a "dug-out" ca
noe until they come upon the quarry
The crocodile is intensely fond of little pupDv-dog
ana II you throw dead one into the stream you may
sons cang themselves sportsmen to tie up live puppy
to tree in order that its yelps may bring crocodile
t0 oPot, Dul SCh cIueIty IS rlgnty detested by all
good hunters The puppy knows the danger full WELL
and suffers agonies of terror.
The crocodie's craving for puppies is remarkable
Negro fishermen who live the creeks have told me
that very often crocodes will come prowlng around
their huts at night after their dogs.
Fish and and-crabS are also favorite articles of
diet; now and then horse is attacked while
drinking in shallow river and there have been
Of coored and their pckannnies being carried
off while washing clothes in a stream.
fortunately such cases are rare in the West Indies
the black people having wholesome dread Of crocodes
There is mistaken idea that only the eye and the
throat Of the crocodile can be pierced by bullet. AS
hole through any part of the hide.
The crocodile is easy to kill, the gets
within range 1t does not possess the wonderful vital
wounds.
l have known some cases, however in which croco-
dlles have struggled for life most gamely.
There an old fellow said to be Of immense size
along the banks of of the Jamaican rivers carrying
off cattle, soaring washerwomen, and even taking a
stroll and then down the main of riverside
village and driving everyone heter-sketer indoors
party of Englishmen at last tracked it to its lair
and slew it after great fight.
When it dragged to land, its hide found to
be covered with barnacles, just like the bottom Of
ship, account Of its great age One of the hunters
told that it did die until had been pierced by
than twenty bullets.
In another hunt in which | took part the crocodile
had the better of the business
We party of ten, and searched the creeks
in small yacht under sail. Finding crocodles we
tied the yacht up to tree and landed to do some
stalking through the mangroves.
Two of took path; the remaining eight went in
another direction
My friend and l sought vainly for an hour or two
and then returned towards the boat About hundred
yards from the bank across eight rifles lying
about in all directions but not sign Of the men
Filled with alarm hurried to the bank.
The yacht out in mid-stream with friends,
pale as ghosts all safe aboard. They were eagerly
scanning the creek, and standing guard with
and bOat-hooks
We got aboard, and they explained matters to US
Feeling tired by the hot sum- they took nap under
cotton wood tree leaving guard; but he
also fell asleep. One fellow waking up saw huge
crocodile coming towards them. He aroused the rest
with wild yer and they rushed to the boat They had
not time to snatch up their rifles.