A PILLION CROCODILE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 153, 14 June 1932, Page 5

A PILLION CROCODILE

SIX-FOOT REPTILE ON A BICYCLE. CURIOUS WARES IN EAST AFRICA. Nairobi, May 4. Riding a bicycle, a native arrived in Main Street, Kampala, the other day, stopped at a large store, walked in and asked if they bought crocodiles. The salesman said he would like to see the sample first. The native returned outside, -where a crowd was collected around his cycle. Fastened along the main bar was a 6ft. crocodile, with his head hanging over the front wheel and his tail curled along the luggage carrier.

The native wheeled his ware into the shop. After a long discussion, the crocodile changed hands for ss. Presently, the purchaser, worried by the death-like appearance of the saurian, dashed after the seller and said, “Come back, the croc’s dead.” “Only tired, Baas. Put him In water.”

The purchaser produced a long tin bath, wherein he put the front end of the crocodile. Presently the reptile’s eyes began to flicker, the tail swished, the jaws snapped, and he hopped out of the bath.

Ten seconds later the shop was deserted —no salesmen, no customers, nothing except a bad-tempered crocodile. With some difficulty, and in the interest of trade, the reptile was caught, fed into a sack, and then taken hurriedly to Lake Victoria, where it was dumped. He can now drink as much water as he likes.—Auckland “Star” Correspondent.