As I have told the story of Sadam’s alarm at the sudden appearance of the alligator, I ought in justice to him, to mention an occurrence which took place last year. He and his brother Dand were wandering near Tanjong Po, a rocky point near the entrance of the Sarawak river, when they came to a cave; hearing some movement inside, they entered, and saw two huge alligators at the farther end. Knowing that these ferocious reptiles are not very active, except on soft mud, or in the water, they determined to attack them. They were armed with spears and swords, and entering the cave, Sadam approached the first beast, and actively springing clear to avoid its rush, drove his spear into the soft side, and with his brother’s aid soon severed the head from its body. Encouraged by their success they advanced to attack the second, which was vainly endeavouring to escape over the broken rocks, and soon succeeded in destroying it. I was conversing one day with a French priest who had resided many years in Siam, and he told me he had seen men there catch the alligator in the following manner:--In the upper Menam, where the river is broad and shallow, but with deep pools occasionally, the alligators are both numerous and fierce; yet the inhabitants, who are very fond of eating the flesh, pursue them with great courage and skill. Six or seven men proceed to a pool where one of these reptiles is supposed to lurk, and with long poles, sound every portion of it; if an animal be there he is soon disturbed, and driven towards the shallower part of the river, even to the sandbanks, where expert men throw their lassoes round his feet and tail. When they think him somewhat exhausted, a bold hunter, springing on the alligator’s back, places his hands over the creature’s eyes, which then always remains quiet. A noose is quickly slipped over his head, and the animal hauled ashore. Alligators lay their eggs in the jungle. I remember hearing the late Mr. Brereton tell the following story: He was one day hunting in the jungle near the Sakarang fort, when his dogs gave tongue. He followed up quickly, and found they had disturbed a female alligator laying her eggs. Directly she saw him, she gave chase, and he had some difficulty in getting away from her, though the dogs distracted her attention. Alligators very seldom attack boats, but a case occurred in the Sambas river, where a man was dragged out of a large prahu from among twenty of his companions. My own party was never in danger from them but once, when a large alligator rose within three feet of the boat; but before he could do anything, I had put a rifle-ball into his side, as I happened at that moment to be looking out for a shot at them on the mud banks.