THE WORLD S WONDERS. 



449 



were abundant along the shores. This latter animal is a species 

 of lizard, which accompanies the crocodile and gives it warning 

 of aproaching danger. In this respect it is the crocodile's 

 friend, but this friendship is an interested one, for it subsists 

 almost exclusively on crocodile eggs. Stanley shot one of these 

 singular and rare animals which measured seven feet in length. 

 On the 21st of March they landed at an island having some 

 most singular wonders, among which was a natural bridge of 

 basaltic rock, which formed an irregular arch about twenty- 

 four feet in length by twelve feet in depth, under which they 



NATURAL-BRIDGE ISLAND. 



were able to pass from one side of the island to the other. 

 Another island near it contains a grotto, like that in which the 

 enchantress Calypso lived ; while still another near by resembles 

 the Sphynxof Egypt. 



ENCOUNTER WITH WILD NATIVES. 



THE shores of the lake were thickly populated, there being 

 village after village in almost unbroken continuity. Generally 

 the people were disposed to be friendly, but occasional hostile 

 parties were encountered, who resisted every attempt to land 

 among them. Upon reaching a bay that lay within a border of 

 a plain on one side, and u, promontory on the other, in the extreme 

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