534 THE WORLD* 8 WONDERS. 



alarm their prey, and had a hope that, singling out a shelter and 

 waiting till dark, they should find it occupied. In this hope they 

 were not disappointed. Lying quite still in their concealment, 

 just at dusk they heard the loud peculiar " Hew ! Hew ! Hew !" 

 which is the call of the male to his mate. They waited till it 

 was quite dark and then saw what they had so longed for all the 

 weary afternoon. A nshiego was sitting in his nest ; his feet 

 rested on the lower branch ; his head reached quite into the little 

 dome of a roof, and his arm was clasped firmly about the tree- 

 trunk. This is their way of sleeping. A shot quickly brought 

 the poor beast to the earth. 



The largest one which Du Chaillu killed measured four feet 

 four inches in height, and had a spread of arms of more than 

 seven feet. This shows it to be larger than the chimpanzee, but 

 considerably smaller than the gorilla ; wh'ile it bears no resem- 

 blance to either. 



FIGHT BETWEEN A LEOPARD AND A CROCODILE. 



ON the following day a crocodile hunt was arranged to take 

 place on Anengue Lake, which was fairly alive with the dreadful 

 reptiles. The natives, having only harpoons, very seldom hunted 

 them, as their only vulnerable spot is in the soft place just 

 behind or under the fore-legs, which is very difficult to hit with a 

 harpoon. This immunity from danger which the crocodile 

 shares tends to multiply their numbers and make them easy of 

 approach. Du Chaillu went out in a canoe paddled by two men, 

 while others followed to pick up the game. Several were shot, 

 measuring from eighteen to twenty feet i.n length, which were 

 towed to the village behind canoes, crocodile meat being regarded 

 as a great luxury by all Africans. 



About two hours after this incident Du Chaillu's attention 

 was attracted by aloud splashing among the reeds near the shore, 

 and a fierce growling, which plainly told of some wild animal in 

 distress. A few vigorous strokes of the paddles brought him in 

 plain view of a leopard and crocodile engaged in deadly combat. 

 It was evident at a glance that the leopard had been attacked by 

 the reptile while drinking and was battling for his life. It was 



