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； even then； hang back； reluctant to embroil themselves in a quarrel which does not concern them。 The man…eating alligator is supposed to be pursued by a righteous Nemesis； and whenever one is caught they have a profound conviction that it must be the guilty one； or his accomplice。
Like the Dyaks； the natives of Madagascar never kill a crocodile except in retaliation for one of their friends who has been destroyed by a crocodile。 They believe that the wanton destruction of one of these reptiles will be followed by the loss of human life； in accordance with the principle of lex talionis。 The people who live near the lake Itasy in Madagascar make a yearly proclamation to the crocodiles； announcing that they will revenge the death of some of their friends by killing as many crocodiles in return； and warning all well…disposed crocodiles to keep out of the way； as they have no quarrel with them； but only with their evil…minded relations who have taken human life。 Various tribes of Madagascar believe themselves to be descended from crocodiles； and accordingly they view the scaly reptile as； to all intents and purposes； a man and a brother。 If one of the animals should so far forget himself as to devour one of his human kinsfolk； the chief of the tribe； or in his absence an old man familiar with the tribal customs； repairs at the head of the people to the edge of the water； and summons the family of the culprit to deliver him up to the arm of justice。 A hook is then baited and cast into the river or lake。 Next day the guilty brother； or one of his family； is dragged ashore； and after his crime has been clearly brought home to him by a strict interrogation； he is sentenced to death and executed。 The claims of justice being thus satisfied and the majesty of the law fully vindicated； the deceased crocodile is lamented and buried like a kinsman； a mound is raised over his relics and a stone marks the place of his head。
Again； the tiger is another of those dangerous beasts whom the savage prefers to leave alone； lest by killing one of the species he should excite the hostility of the rest。 No consideration will induce a Sumatran to catch or wound a tiger except in self…defence or immediately after a tiger has destroyed a friend or relation。 When a European has set traps for tigers； the people of the neighbourhood have been known to go by night to the place and explain to the animals that the traps are not set by them nor with their consent。 The inhabitants of the hills near Rajamahall； in Bengal； are very averse to killing a tiger； unless one of their kinsfolk has been carried off by one of the beasts。 In that case they go out for the purpose of hunting and slaying a tiger； and when they have succeeded they lay their bows and arrows on the carcase and invoke God； declaring that they slew the animal in retaliation for the loss of a kinsman。 Vengeance having been thus taken； they swear not to attack another tiger except under similar provocation。
The Indians of Carolina would not molest snakes when they came upon them； but would pass by on the other side of the path； believing that if they were to kill a serpent； the reptile's kindred would destroy some of their brethren； friends； or relations in return。 So the Seminole Indians spared the rattlesnake； because they feared that the soul of the dead rattlesnake would incite its kinsfolk to take vengeance。 The Cherokee regard the rattlesnake as the chief of the snake tribe and fear and respect him accordingly。 Few Cherokee will venture to kill a rattlesnake； unless they cannot help it； and even then they must atone for the crime by craving pardon of the snake's ghost either in their own person or through the mediation of a priest； according to a set formula。 If these precautions are neglected； the kinsfolk of the dead snake will send one of their number as an avenger of blood； who will track down the murderer and sting him to death。 No ordinary Cherokee dares to kill a wolf； if he can possibly help it； for he believes that the kindred of the slain beast would surely avenge its death； and that the weapon with which the deed had been done would be quite useless for the future； unless it were cleaned and exorcised by a medicine…man。 However； certain persons who know the proper rites of atonement for such a crime can kill wolves with impunity； and they are sometimes hired to do so by people who have suffered from the raids of the wolves on their cattle or fish…traps。 In Jebel…Nuba； a district of the Eastern Sudan； it is forbidden to touch the nests or remove the young of a species of black birds； resembling our blackbirds； because the people believe that the parent birds would avenge the wrong by causing a stormy wind to blow； which would destroy the harvest。
But the savage clearly cannot afford to spare all animals。 He must either eat some of them or starve； and when the question thus comes to be whether he or the animal must perish； he is forced to overcome his superstitious scruples and take the life of the beast。 At the same time he does all he can to appease his victims and their kinsfolk。 Even in the act of killing them he testifies his respect for them； endeavours to excuse or even conceal his share in procuring their death； and promises that their remains will be honourably treated。 By thus robbing death of its terrors； he hopes to reconcile his victims to their fate and to induce their fellows to come and be killed also。 For example； it was a principle with the Kamtchatkans never to kill a land or sea animal without first making excuses to it and begging that the animal would not take it ill。 Also they offered it cedarnuts and so forth； to make it think that it was not a victim but a guest at a feast。 They believed that this hindered other animals of the same species from growing shy。 For instance； after they had killed a bear and feasted on its flesh； the host would bring the bear's head before the company； wrap it in grass； and present it with a variety of trifles。 Then he would lay the blame of the bear's death on the Russians； and bid the beast wreak his wrath upon them。 Also he would ask the bear to inform the other bears how well he had been treated； that they too might come without fear。 Seals； sea…lions； and other animals were treated by the Kamtchatkans with the same ceremonious respect。 Moreover； they used to insert sprigs of a plant resembling bear's wort in the mouths of the animals they killed； after which they would exhort the grinning skulls to have no fear but to go and tell it to their fellows； that they also might come and be caught and so partake of this splendid hospitality。 When the Ostiaks have hunted and killed a bear； they cut off its head and hang it on a tree。 Then they gather round in a circle and pay it divine honours。 Next they run towards the carcase uttering lamentations and saying； Who killed you？ It was the Russians。 Who cut off your head？ It was a Russian axe。 Who skinned you？ It was a knife made by a Russian。 They explain； too； that the feathers which sped the arrow on its flight came from the wing of a strange bird； and that they did nothing but let the arrow go。 They do all this because they believe that the wandering ghost of the slain bear w