Crocodiles are naturally defended by armour almost
impenetrable; being covered with strong hard scales, except the top of the
head, where the skin is fixed over the bone of the scull, and in the throat.
Notwithstanding the formidable appearance of the Crocodile,
the African negroes, in the neighbourhood of the river Senegal, venture to
surprise it in places where the water is not sufficiently deep to allow it to
swim. They approach it boldly, having no other weapon than a knife in the right
hand, and the left arm ·wrapped round with a cow's hide. As they advance they
present the left arm, which the Crocodile swallows greedily; but, while it is
in the throat, the negroes have time to give it several stabs below the under
jaw, where it is most vulnerable; and the water getting in at the mouth, which
is held involuntarily open, -as it is occasionally forced beneath the surface
of the river, it is soon destroyed. The Crocodile is also at-tacked by a party
of negroes; one of whom fixes the mouth of the animal open with their dart
called zagaye, while the rest hold it under water till it is dispatched. The
flesh of the Crocodile is white and juicy, and is considered by those people as
very delicious but Europeans who have tasted it, have been disgusted by the
strong musky flavour with which it is impregnated.
M. Goldberry says, that the
flesh of the different species of Crocodile is constantly sold in the market of
Isle St. Lewis, in Senegal, where it is purchased by the negroes as a general
article of food. The author was several times prevailed upon to taste this
repast : and on one
occasion, he even had a piece dressed in the French manner, with rich gravy and
spices: but he says that no cooking will make the flesh tender-that it is never
free from a strong musky smell-and, in short, that he considered the dish to be
detestable.
From the 1819 book: Foreign Field Sports, Fisheries, Sporting Anecdotes from Drawings by Messrs. Howitt, Atkinson, Clark, Manskirch, & C. With a supplement of New South Wales
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