THE FEROCITY OF CROCODILES. 265 



thigh we counted seven or eight on each side, each 

 of which was sufficiently open to receive three fingers. 

 Others were united by the same rent. A single blow 

 of the powerful jaws of the crocodile appeared to have 

 produced all these wounds." 



The poor fellow was carried to land, and remained 

 extended on the sand in the sun, whilst a man went 

 to the neighbouring village in search of some means 

 of transport. Far from complaining, " It was writ- 

 ten ! " he said, and he thanked God for having saved 

 his life. The boat continued its voyage. 



Near there the traveller saw in the sand the remains 

 of a crocodile killed by the natives, who were re- 

 proaching it as the cause of the death of many of 

 their friends. 



For many hours crocodiles were the subject of 

 conversation of all on board. " Some of our men, who 

 were from Khartoum, stated that the approaches to 

 that city had for some time past become very dangerous, 

 and that many people had perished there. The croco- 

 diles wander near the places where the people come 

 to draw water, and if an isolated person advances too 

 far into the river, in order to get purer water, he runs 

 very great risk." 



Among other stories, one is related which is not 

 without analogy with that of the crocodile whose fero- 

 city Seba denied the existence of entirely. Here it is. 



