CHAPTER II

Summary

There are vast numbers of crocodiles in the rivers of the Island of St. Lawrence, of the Bengal coast, the Malabar country, and of Guinea and Angola.

The crocodiles live in fresh water; they are of great size, and being covered with scales, are therefore very difficult to kill, but the belly is tender and easy to pierce. They have an odour of musk, as we perceived from those we killed at the Island of St. Lawrence; for as soon as they were struck all the air was, as it were, perfumed with musk, and even the banks had the same odour. They who have eaten the flesh say it is very delicate and good; but, for my part, I never tasted it, and had no fancy to try it. The mouth is garnished with very sharp teeth, those of the lower jaw overlapping and transpiercing the upper jaw, which is all marked with the cavities wherein to the teeth pass, and it is the upper jaw that works.

The turtles float on the surface of the water in order to bask in the sun; some are of such a size that the shell of one would suffice to roof a little hut or cot, and to cover ten or more persons sitting. There are vast numbers of them at the Maldives, and some little islands you may see inhabited by no other animals than these great turtles, but covered with them.