Crocodile Catching in Borneo.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 36

Crocodile Catching in Borneo.

It is a common sight in Borneo to see a large crocodile sunning himself on the muddy 'bank of a river. He takes no notice of the natives, even though they pass (piite near him. So common, indeed, is the sight that the Dyaks themselves pay no heed to these dangerous reptiles, and yet it is no unusual thingin Borneo to hear of some human life being taken by a crocodile. For some months, perhaps, says the Rev. E. 11. Gomes, writing in ”( hambers’s Journal,” the crocodiles in a river live at peace •with mankind, and then suddenly one of these creatures will carry off some lad bathing in the river, or even attack some one paddling along in his boat. There seems to be no reason why the crocodile should suddenly show a maneating propensity in this way. The Dyaks 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 befall him. and lu* 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 Dyak has no wish to start a quarrel; if, however, tin* crocodile ‘breaks the truce and kills someone, then he feels justified in retaliating. In these circumstances. the Dyaks set to work to find the culprit, and go on catching and killing crocodiles until they succeed in doing so. The Dyaks 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 in-

terfere with the reptiles, or take any part in their capture, probably fearing mat if they do anything of the kina they themselves may some time or other sutler 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 ten inches long, is sharpened to a point at each end. A length of plaited nark of the ‘barn-tree, about eignt feet long, is tied to a shallow notcu in the middle of this piece of wood, and a single cane or rattan, forty or fifty feet long, is tied to the end of the Dark rope, and lorms 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 bark 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 putrefying flesh. Sometimes as many as ten crocodiles are killed before they manage to find the animal they want to be revenged on. Having succeeded in doing this, they once more five 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 crocodilecatcher is asked to help to destroy the murderer, and a large reward offered him.