Pigs are very numerous here, and wild cattle and deer are also abundant. We have as yet seen no traces of alligators, though in the Madalam branch they are said to abound, and last spring I saw a very large one; it was a disgusting-looking object, a great fat slimy-looking thing,--a tail stuck on a hogshead. They are not, however, dreaded, as they can obtain a very plentiful supply of food from the pigs which constantly swim from bank to bank. Otherwise, it would be unpleasant to have to steer a boat, as the man-devouring reptile strikes his victim from the stern with a blow of his tail. This happened to an unfortunate Malay in the Siol branch of the Sarawak, who was pulling up that river with his wife in a small canoe. The death of this man drew attention to the monster alligator I have previously referred to, and Mr. Crookshank and Sadam, a very courageous Malay, went down to place a bait on the banks of the Siol. When this was done, they pulled back, Mr. Crookshank steering. They had seen nothing of their enemy, so that Sadam jumped up, and, flourishing his spear, began in a loud voice to defy the alligator, using very insulting terms. Suddenly he dropt his weapon and seizing his paddle, began pulling away with might and main, for the animal had just risen to the surface of the water not twenty yards from the boat. Though the steersman’s position was by no means an agreeable one, Mr. Crookshank could not help laughing at the change of countenance of his companion, who excused himself by saying it was the suddenness of his challenge being accepted that made him pull away in an excited manner. “But now,” he added, rising to his feet, “let him show himself again, and I will not attempt to run.” He had scarcely uttered the words, when the alligator, which was accustomed to follow boats, again rose to the surface. There was no more boasting, but a frantic attempt to get out of the Siol branch. The alligator took the bait, but got rid of the long rattan fastened to it, by accidentally or purposely winding it round a tree, then breaking it off. However, though his body was not secured, it was most probable he died from the lacerations of the stomach caused by his endeavours to break the rattan, as I have not heard of his being seen since. It was up the Siol branch that a place was found where the body of one of his victims appeared to have been beaten, to break the bones, previously to swallowing. The Malays say the alligators do it by repeated blows of their ponderous head; in fact, one of the large teeth of the reptile was found snapped off on the above-mentioned spot.