208 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



while the carcass remained invisible. I confess to a 

 liking to see and examine what I have shot at the 

 time the deed is done, but with this kind of game it 

 is seldom possible, for three or four hours have to 

 elapse before it floats. Within easy rifle range were 

 now to be seen many more hippos, but as I had 

 already slain sufficient meat, I resolved not to fire at 

 them, unless called upon to do so in self-defence. 

 From the skin of the zee-koe (Boer name, literally 

 sea-cow) being very thick, this animal bleeds very 

 little externally when penetrated by a bullet ; never- 

 theless, the vital fluid of my victim had escaped in 

 sufficient quantity to warn the crocodiles that if they 

 hurried up there was every prospect of their obtaining 

 a meal of flesh. Such a hint was not thrown away 

 upon such rapacious marauders ; so, as far as the 

 bend of the river would permit the eye to reach, 

 these disgusting saurians could be observed sculling 

 up stream with their utmost speed, an indisputable 

 proof of the wonderful powers of scent that are attri- 

 buted to them by the native population. Their tail 

 seems their principal means of propulsion, it acting 

 very much after the manner of an Archimedian screw 

 to a steamship, while the velocity obtained is quite 

 surprising. 



It would be difficult to discover how rapidly a 

 crocodile can swim, but I feel convinced that I may 

 safely assert that twelve miles an hour is easily 

 accomplished by them. All those that were in the 



