University of Virginia Library

27. The Alligator in Georgia
(1735)

THE crocodile, which seems to be the chief of reptiles, abounds in all the rivers of Georgia. They call them alligators. I have seen some of these twelve feet long, I believe.

A number of various errors are commonly reported about these creatures. One is that their scales are musket proof; whereas I have frequently seen them killed with small shot. Nay, I have heard from people of good credit, that when they have found one at a distance from the water, they have killed him with sticks. They did not think him worth a shot.

Mr. Horton has more than once struck one through with a sword. The watermen often knock them on the head with their oars, as the alligators lie sleeping upon the banks. For they are very sluggish and timid; though they can make one or two springs in the water with nimbleness enough.

They can also snap with strength whatever comes within their jaws. They are terrible to look at, stretching open a horrible large mouth, big enough to swallow a man. Theyhave rows of dreadful large sharp teeth.

Their feet are like those of dragons, armed with great claws. They have a long tail which they throw

about with great strength, and which seems to be their best weapon. For their claws are weakly set on; and the stiffness of their necks hinders then from turning nimbly to bite.

When Mr. Oglethorpe was at Savannah for the first time, he tried to make an end of the fear which the people had for the crocodiles. So he wounded and caught one about twelve feet long, and had him brought up to the town. He set the boys to bait him with sticks.[117]

The creature gaped and blew hard, but had no heart to move. It only turned about its tail, and snaps at the sticks.

At our first coming they would stare at the boats, and stay still till they came up close to them; so that Mr. Horton killed five in one day. But after frequent attacks, they grew more shy. They destroy a great many fish, and will seize a hog or a dog if they see him in the water. But their general way of preying is to lie still, with their mouths open and their noses just above water. So they watch till the stream brings something down as prey to them. They swallow anything that comes into their mouths, and upon opening them, knots of lightwood have been found inside of them.[118]

They lay eggs which are smaller than those of a goose. They scrape together a number of leaves, and other trash, of which nature has taught them to choose such as will be warm. Of these they make a hot-bed, in the midst of which they leave their eggs covering them with a sufficient thickness. The heat of the heap, helped by the warmth of the climate, hatches the eggs and the young crocodiles creep out like small lizards.