CROCODILE CATCHING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 83, 24 August 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

CROCODILE CATCHING.

THI-: BO.RXEO MKI'IlOi). It is a common sight in Borneo to see ;i large crocodile sunning himself oil'the muddy bank ol a river. lie takes no notice of the natives, even though they pa.is quite near him. ;So common, in(leetl, i.-, tile sight that the Dvak.-: themselves pay no heed to these dangerous reptiles, and yet it is no unusual tiling in Borneo to hear of some human life being taken by a crocodile. For some months, perhaps (says the Rev. E. H. domes, writing in Chambers' Journal), the crocodiles in a river live at peace with mankind, and then suddenly one of these creatures will carry oil' some lad bathing in the river, or even attack someone paddling along in his boat. There seems to be no reason why the crocodile should suddenly show a maneating propensity in this way. The Dvaks account for it by curious superstitions. They say that if food is offered to a person, and he refuses it, and goes away without at least touching it, some misfortune is sure to befal him, and he will most probably be attacked by a crocodile. The Dyaks of Borneo will not kill a crocodile except in revenge. If the animal will live at peace with him, the Dvak has 110 wish to start a quarrel; if, however, the crocodile breaks the truce and kills someone, then lie feels justified in retaliating. In these circumstances, the Dyaks set to work to find the culprit, and go on catching and killing crofcodiles until they succeed in doing so. The Dya.ks generally wear brass ornaments, and by cutting open a dead crocodile they can easily find out if he is the creature they wish to punish. The majority of natives will not interfere with the reptiles, or take any part in their capture, probably fearing that if they do anything of the kind they themselves may some time or other suffer for it by being attacked by a crocodile. The usual way of catching crocodiles in Borneo is with a baited wooden bar and slack cable. A piece of hardwood, about an inch in diameter, and about 10 inches long, is sharpened to a point at each end. A length of plaited bark of the baru tree, about eight feet long, is tied to a shallow notch in the middle of this piece of wood, and a single cane or rattan, 40 or 50 feet long, is tied to the end of the bark rope, and forms a long line. The most irresistible bait is the carcase of a monkey, though often the body of a dog or snake is used. This bait is securely lashed to the wooden bar, and one of the pointed ends is tied back with a few turns of cotton to the hark rope, bringing the bar and rope into the same straight line. The more overpowering the stench of the bait the greater is the probability of its being taken, as the crocodile has a preference for putrifying fish. Sometimes as many as 10 crocodiles are killed before they manage to find the animal they want to be reevnged on. Having succeeded in doing this, they once more live in peace with these reptiles until such time as the truce is broken again by some crocodile killing a human being. There are men whose business is to catch crocodiles, and who earn their living by that means: and whenever a human being has fallen a victim to one of these brutes, a professional crocodile catcher is asked to help to destroy the murderer, and a large reward offered him.