SOVEREIGNS IN A CROCODILE.

Mataura Ensign, 14 January 1914, Page 2

SOVEREIGNS IN A CROCODILE.

The Johannesburg correspondent of South Africa' tells the following curious story:—Three well-known local sportsmen have presented us with a first-rate thrill. Hunting along the Kornati, in Swaziland, they shot a crocodile, all old male over 12ft long. On opening it for skinning purposes, they found to their amazement 25 sovereigns They also found eight bushbnck heeis and a number of pebbles. Threo of the sovereigns wore Ivruger coins and 21 Victorians. All the coins were much worn; indeed, the milling on the had disappeared. This/it is supposed, was due to rubbing by the stoifes. The nunager of the Johannesburg branch of the Standard Bank, who has examined the coins, states that die rubbing off has reduced their value to about 16s each. While', however, this may bo their bunk value as current coin, it may be mentioned that Mr Develling, the firor of the shot, has had some good offers for the coins. The hunters gave one or two coins awav ere their return to Johannesburg, the owner of the land upon which they 3ki.t being presented with one. It is believed, that this is the flint case where gold coins in quantity have been found in the inside of_any victim to the gun of a South African hunter. Presumably some one who was passing along the banks or through the river was attacked and eaten. It may have been some unfortunate native, making for his home, having garnered the coin by labor on the Rand, or it may have been a white man with money in his belt, who was hauled off his horse while crossing the stream.