The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-13
has fresh meat he carries 1t away ana
hides it in some safe place until It

has fresh meat he carries 1t away ana
hides it in some safe place until It
decomposes.
Tho c thing is to suspend the
bait from the bough of a tree over
hanging the part of the river known
to be the haunt of the animals. The
bait is hung a lew feet above the
highwater level. and the long rattan
line is left lying on the ground and
eral similar lines are set in different
parts Of the river. and there left for
days. until one of the bats is taken
by a crocodile. Attracted either by
the smell or sight of the bait, some
animal raises himself from the water
and a at h hanging bundle. the
slack line Offering no resistance until
the bait has been swallowed and the
brute begins to make off. Then the
planted end of the cane line holds suf-
ficiently to snap the slight thread
binding the pointed stick to the bark
rope. The stick thus returns to it's
original position at right angles to the
line, and becomes damned across the
~crocodile's stomach. the two sharp
ened points fixing themselves into the
flesh. The crocodile swims away,
attached to the bait which he has
swallowed. Sometimes the cotton
holding the bar to the line fails to
snap. In that case the crocodile be-
comes suspicious of the long line at
tached to what he has swallowed,
and. climbing up the river bank, dis
gcrges The bait and unopened ''hook'
found. But should the cotton snap
and the bar fix itself in the animal's
inside nothing can a the brute.
The formidable teeth Of the croco-
ollie r not able to bite through the
rope attached to h bait, because the
barb fibers of which 1t is loosely made
get between his pointed teeth. and
the rope holds. no matter how much
the ibers get separated.
The trappers each morning visit the
different traps to see If any of the
bats have been taken, and If any are
missing they search for them. They
seldom fail to find the rattan or cane
floating on the surface of some deep
pool at no great distance from the
spot where the bait was set. A firm
but gentle pull soon brings the rocco
die to the surface. and IL he be a big
one he is brought ashore: though
to the boat and made fast there.
Professional crocodile catchers are
supposed to possess some wonderful
mysterious power over the animals
which enables them to land them and
handle them without trouble. I have
seen a man land a large crocodile or
the bank by simply pulling gently al
the line. But this Is not surprising
as, from the c%rocodile's point of view
there is nothing else to do but follow
when every pull. however gentle
causes considerable pain.
The rest of the proceeding is NOR
remarkable. The animal is addressed
In eulogistic language, and 'beguiied'
so the natives say, into Offering nc
resistance. He is called a "rajah
among animals" and Is told that he
has come on a friendly visit. and must
behave accordingly. First the trappe,
thing to do. The next thing he does
appears to me very risky. Still speak.
ing as before in high flown language,
he tells the crocodile that he has
brought rings for his fingers. and he
binds the hind legs fast behind the
beasts back, so taking from him his
grip on h ground. and consequently
remembers what a sudden swing Of
the muscular tail meanA one cannot
help admiring the courage OF q man
who cody approaches q large croco.
ollie for the purpose Of tying up his
hind legs. Finally. the foreiegs are
tied In q same way over the animals
back. A stout pole il passed under
the bound legs. and the animal IL ear
ried away. He is taken 70 the neares,
government station, ana the reward
given according. to tho length OF ti,s
animal killed is claimed.
Though the animal is spoken to In
such hatteFing terms before he ID se,
cured. the moment his legs are bound
across hts back and he il powsrjesl
for evil the natives howl at him and
deride him for his stupidity. Later
on they rip his belly for human re-.
mains, and hew, him to pieces. HI
His head is cut Off ana huas over the
fireplace, side by side with the cluster
Of human heads taken in warfare.
The professional crocodile catcher.
are generally Maiays: but now there
r Dyaks who have g1vsn up theil
and quite willing to earn money B,
catching and killing crocodilss II 20
PEACE IN SIGHT.