THROUGH ELEPHANT GRASS AND WATER 



the beast swam across, for on reaching midstream the 

 torrent would hurl beast or boat down the river at a 

 furious pace. The canoe boy, who was attired in nought 

 but a few beads, told me how one of his friends had been 

 trying to ford the river just at this spot a few days before 

 our arrival. He had got some distance from the bank 

 into the river when he was dragged under by a crocodile 

 and was not seen again. This fellow had watched the 

 tragedy and recounted it in a most dramatic manner. 



The best way to prevent attack from these beasts or 

 reptiles when fording a river, is to make a lot of com- 

 motion in the water, splashing about and shouting- 

 There is not so much danger, however, in a party fording 

 at the same time, provided the natives make plenty of 

 noise. At all times I prefer to use a canoe if one is avail- 

 able, but on the majority of smaller rivers they are not 

 always to be found where and when you may require 

 them. 



Both crocodiles and hippo, when shot in the water, 

 will float for a few seconds and then sink, remaining 

 under the surface until nightfall, when the temperature 

 falls and the water acquires sufficient density to float 

 the carcases. 



Slowly we threaded our way through the tall grass, 

 travelling with the greatest difficulty owing to the slippery 

 mud underfoot. Apparently the water had only recently 

 drained off this part of the country, leaving the path in a 

 treacherous condition with coarse tangled grass beaten 

 down over the track. Every now and then some one 

 sat down rather hurriedly, as a tent pole with its ropes 

 hanging loosely from the load became entangled with 

 the huge thorns of an acacia-like bush, and such a mishap 

 lent additional discomfort to one and all. 



In a short time we came to a piece of short grass 

 country dotted with large trees and bush among which 

 roamed numerous herds of buck and antelope. With the 



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