THE DEVIL-FISH OF FICTION AND OF FACT 35 



Major Newsome, R.E., has also been so kind as to send 

 me the following description of an incident which happened to 

 himself. 



"In the years 1856-7," he writes, "I was stationed at East 

 London, a landing place about 900 miles from the Cape, up the 

 east coast of Africa ; — I speak from memory, having no map at 

 hand. It is a rock-bound coast with the exception of the river's 

 mouth, which consists of a small space of sand. The landing is 

 most dangerous, and, conducted in surf boats, hatched over, is 

 only then practicable in very calm weather. The ordinary prac- 

 tice amongst the officers, both for comfort and saving of labour, 

 is to bathe on the sea shore. Such was my custom each morning. 

 There was one quadrangular cavity in the rocks which, at low 

 water and in calm weather, formed a very desirable bath ; but in 

 rough weather, or at any time of tide except near about low water, 

 it was unapproachable. At the best of times it was generally in a 

 boil, and I have known a strong swimmer washed clean out of it 

 on to the adjoining rocks, cut most grievously about the body by 

 barnacles. Nevertheless, we mostly took a dip there when prac- 

 ticable, on account of the freshness of the water. At other times 

 the plunge took place in smooth pools left in the rocks by the 

 receding tide, which, though not quite so fresh, yet formed a very 

 acceptable bath. One morning I took a header into one of these 

 pools, which was, perhaps, 20 feet long, 7 to 8 feet wide, and 

 deep in the centre — 8 or 9 feet. As I swam from one end to the 

 other, I was horrified at feeling something around my ancle, and 

 made for the side as speedily as I could. I thought at first it 

 was only sea-weed ; but as I landed, and trod with my foot on the 

 rock, my disgust was heightened at feeling a fleshy and slippery 

 substance under me. I was, I confess, alarmed, and so, appa- 

 rently, was the beast on whom I trod, and whom, I suspect, I 

 thereby discomfited, as he quickly detached himself and made 

 again for the water. Some fellow-bathers, whom I hailed, came 

 to my assistance, and with a boat-hook, on to which the brute 



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