16.10.25: Level 3; Crocodile hunting

Vēnātiō crocodīlōrum multīs atque variīs modīs īnstituitur. Suis tergus, prō ēscā hāmō īnsertum, in medium flūmen dēmittit vēnātor. Ipse in rīpā flūminis vīvum porcellum ferit. Crocodīlus, audītā vōce, ad sonum accurrit. In tergus vērō suis incīdēns, illud dēglūtit, moxque in terram attrahitur. In terrā extractī crocodīlī oculōs lutō oblinit vēnātor. Tum facillimē interficitur.

dēglūtiō, -īre [4]: (rare) swallow

esca, -ae [1/f]: [i] food; [ii] (here) bait

feriō, -īre, -iī [4]: strike

hamus, -ī [2/m]: hook

incidō, -ere, incidī [3] [i] fall (into / upon something) [ii] attack

īnserō, -ere, īnseruī, īnsertus [3]: (here) fasten

īnstituō, -ere, īnstituī, īnstitūtus [3]: (here) practise i.e. referring to what is customarily done

lutum, -ī [2/n]: mud; dirt

oblinō, -ere, oblēvī, oblitus [3]: smear; daub; plaster

sūs, -is [3m/f]: pig

tergus, tergoris [3/n]: skin; hide

Notes:

[i] Crocodīlus, audītā vōce, ad sonum accurrit; ablative absolute i.e. literally: The crocodile, with the voice having been heard, runs towards the sound.

Although an ablative absolute is not connected to the subject of the sentence, nor should it be interpreted as such, it can – if the context is clear – be reworked in English: “Having heard the voice, the crocodile runs towards the sound,” or “The crocodile, after it has heard the voice …” i.e. it is obvious from the context that it is the crocodile that is hearing the sound.

[ii] look out for agreements of perfect passive participles:

Suis tergus … hāmō īnsertum │ the skin of a pig [having been / which has been] fastened onto a hook

In terrā extractī crocodīlī oculōs … │ … the eyes of the crocodile [having been / which has been] drawn onto the land

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Crocodile hunting is practised in many (and) different ways. Into the middle of the river the huntsman lowers a pigskin, fastened on a hook for a bait. He himself strikes a young pig on the river bank. The crocodile, once the voice has been heard [ = after it hears the voice], runs towards the noise. But falling onto / attacking the pigskin, he swallows it, and is soon hauled to land. With mud  The huntsman plasters the eyes of the crocodile [having been] drawn on land / once it has been drawn onto land. It is then very easily killed.