288 CKOCODILES. 



miasmas and the most baneful exhalations. Their dead 

 bodies, thrown into the Nile, served to feed the crocodiles, 

 and these famished monsters followed our boat ready to 

 seize the new prey, for which they had not long to 

 wait." This, however, is nothing to what follows : 



" The disease had thrived vigorously for many days, 

 and exhibited no signs of dying out. The jellabs, 

 whose disheartening impassibility had already revolted 

 me, now sometimes showed their ferocity. When the 

 sick were in a desperate state, they did not wait for 

 their last breath, but threw them into the river, where 

 the crocodiles devoured them alive. One cannot form 

 an idea of the sombre grief of the slaves at sight of 

 such horrors. I was myself a prey to inexpressible 

 agitation ; and, overcome by my indignation, I loaded 

 the merchants with reproaches, which did not appear 

 to have any effect on them. In their cold-blooded bar- 

 barity they could not comprehend my anger ; and 

 wLen I threatened to denounce their unworthy conduct 

 to the local authorities, they replied carelessly, that 

 they were doubtless at liberty to do as they liked with 

 their own property." 



After such abominations, one sees the need that the 

 rights of humanity should be protected with an ener- 

 getic hand. 



Mr. Combes had a black servant named Hassan, a 

 very good fellow, but unable to comprehend the gene- 



