ADVENTURES WITH CROCODILES 81 



No doubt the dispositions of crocodiles vary much in 

 different rivers and lakes, and the seizing of men and 

 other large mammals appears largely a matter of acquired 

 habit. At Shesheke, on the Zambezi, a paramount chief, 

 who lived some forty years ago, used to derive great 

 amusement from watching slaves and criminals being 

 thrown to the crocodiles, his chair being brought to the 

 river's bank in the cool of the afternoon that he might 

 enjoy the spectacle in comfort. The crocodiles at this 

 place never forgot those halcyon days, and, until very 

 recently, it was almost certain death for any one to drink 

 at the river, or attempt to draw water, except within 

 one of the protecting screens of logs which were erected 

 for the purpose. Strange natives, unwarned of the 

 danger, were constantly falling victims, as were dogs 

 and other domestic animals. I believe that of late years 

 shooting by white men has greatly reduced the number 

 of crocodiles, and therefore the danger. On the other 

 hand, there are some large pans in Amatongaland, which, 

 although full of the reptiles, are said to be quite safe to 

 bathe in, attacks on human beings being unknown. 



Notwithstanding that there are few large villages, 

 situate on the banks of the greater African rivers, whereof 

 at least one member of the community does not bear on 

 his person some sign of a hairbreadth escape from the 

 jaws of a crocodile, it is remarkable how callous natives 

 are in regard to danger from this source. They usually 

 exhibit a much livelier fear of lions, though the actual 

 toll taken by these animals must be the merest fraction 

 of that levied by crocodiles. It may be due to a certain 

 lack of imaginative faculty ; the principle that a peril 

 which can neither be seen nor heard must be less pressing 

 than one of which the senses give notice. Whatever 

 the reason, it is undoubtedly most difficult to prevent 



