. The voyages made by the sieur to the islands Dauphine or Madagascar & Bourbon or Mascarenne in the years, 1669, 70, 71 & 72 . diles do a great deal of mischief. I havebeen assurd that there are Provinces in the Island wherethese animals are greatly apprehended, going even into theHuts to take the children. I have often seen them in the water, which remainingimmovable, resemble large logs of wood floating. When these animals see oxen, cows, calves, sheep, orother animals which come to drink, they sink themselvesbelow the surface, then take the beasts by the nose withtheir teeth, & clingi
. The voyages made by the sieur to the islands Dauphine or Madagascar & Bourbon or Mascarenne in the years, 1669, 70, 71 & 72 . diles do a great deal of mischief. I havebeen assurd that there are Provinces in the Island wherethese animals are greatly apprehended, going even into theHuts to take the children. I have often seen them in the water, which remainingimmovable, resemble large logs of wood floating. When these animals see oxen, cows, calves, sheep, orother animals which come to drink, they sink themselvesbelow the surface, then take the beasts by the nose withtheir teeth, & clinging with their tails to the bottom of thewater, which hold like anchors, draw the beasts to thebottom, drown them, and eat them. These Crocodiles have not any tongue, & it is said thatthey have no taste; meantime they are more apt todevour dogs than other animals. And whoever wishes tohave the diversion of seeing it, has only to bring a dog tothe brink of a river where there are crocodiles, & make the 1 These Crocodiles are calld at Madagascar by the French Jacarets, inthe islands of America they call them 16 71 ] of the Island Dauphine, &c. 61 dog bark or howl, incontinently he sees these crocodilesin search. I have never seen or heard say of any Frenchmanhaving been attackd by these Crocodiles, excepting one,but he sufferd no harm. The Blacks are often attackd& eaten by them, when they are obligd to pass throughthe waters; they say that these animals do not love thewhite men. I have bathd myself many times in the rivers withoutany accident happening to me. Indeed, one day I wasbathing in company with other Frenchmen in the river ofFansherre, a place belonging to M. de Champmargou ; wewere a long time in the water. When we were gettingout, I perceivd some small Ducks which were in the immediately went to the Fort of Fansherre to fetch afuzil to fire at these Ducks, which having done, & the raincatching me at the bank of the river, I put myself forshelter unde
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