338 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



it attempted to swim the stream, another crocodile seized it and 

 dragged it under. 



A few nights afterward, while encamped on a small stream, 

 they were aroused by a scream of anguish, and quickly running 

 to the bank of the river, th/vy found that a woman had been 

 caught by a crocodile ; they seized a boat and pushed off to the 

 rescue, but just as they were almost within reach of the unfor- 

 tunate woman she gave a fearful shriek: the horrid reptile hud 

 snapped off her leg at the knee. Mangled and fainting she was 

 carried to the village and her limb bandaged, but she soon died. 



RETURN TO LAKE NYASSA. 



LIVINGSTONE journeyed about one hundred miles west of Vic- 

 toria Falls, then retraced his steps, varying his route by a few 

 short detours, to Lake Nyassa, which he desired to more fully 

 explore. A considerable boat was constructed and an effort made 

 to cross the lake, but a storm arose and for six hours threatened 

 their boat with destruction and forced them to return. The 

 country lying north of the lake is mountainous, but well suited 

 for agriculture, and occupied by a tribe of Zulus. These people 

 own large herds of cattle and are constantly increasing in num- 

 bers by annexing other tribes. Referring to this fact, Living- 

 stone says : "Never before in Africa have we seen anything like 

 the dense population on the shores of Lake Nyassa. In the 

 southern part there was an almost unbroken chain of villages. 

 On the beach of wellnigh every little sandy bay, dark crowds 

 were standing, gazing at the novel sight of a boat under sail ; 

 and wherever we landed we were surrounded in a few seconds by 

 hundreds of men, women, and children, who hastened to have a 

 stare at the 4 chirombo' (wild animals). To see the ' animals' 

 feed was the greatest attraction ; never did the Zoological So- 

 ciety's lions or monkeys draw more sight-seers than we did. 

 Indeed, we equaled the hippopotamus on his first arrival among 

 the civilized on the banks of the Thames. 



" ' How far is it to the end of the lake?' we inquired of an 

 intelligent-looking native at the south part. The other end of 

 the lake I' h.e exclaimed, in real or well-feigned astonishment; 



