THE FEROCITY OF CROCODILES. 267 



M. Tremeaux, "the foundation of this story seemed 

 to me to be true, for not only was it confirmed by 

 many persons on our boat, but I heard it related in 

 terms almost identical during our last residence at 

 Khartoum." 



During that residence the author witnessed another 

 catastrophe, which he reports in the following 

 terms : 



"From the window of the house where we were 

 installed, on the quay, I was occupied in observing 

 the movement of the animated scene in the harbour. 

 A little negro, twelve years of age, had been bought at 

 Ka^ane by our malt re d' hotel. This young boy was 

 standing on the edge of our boat. A kind of hand- 

 kerchief of coloured cotton had just been given to 

 him by his master. Delighted with such a treasure, 

 after examining it minutely, the child shook it in 

 the air. This movement, which attracted my attention, 

 awoke probably also that of a crocodile, for the little 

 garqon having let fall his handkerchief into the water, 

 immediately jumped in to regain it, and never 

 reappeared. The water was suddenly agitated, then 

 a series of undulations, which could be seen towards 

 the middle of the river, were for me the only percep- 

 tible traces of his being carried away by the crocodile. 

 The sailors who were on the boat, said that they had 



