78 LIPE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



our respective protectors, returned about sunset, and 

 over a capital dinner narrated our experiences. Coke, 

 scorning a crocodile and finding no elephant, did not fire 

 a shot. Gumming killed an ariel, and fired at a hippo 

 and a crocodile, both of which he believes he wounded 

 mortally, so the river will be searched to-morrow. Re- 

 tracing my footsteps of yesterday, no dead crocodile 

 could Essafi find, and the hippos being even less obliging 

 than yesterday, I had to give vent to my feelings by a shot 

 at a splendid grey crocodile that was basking in the sun 

 on the opposite bank, at about one hundred and fifty yards 

 distance. This only wounded him ; but before he could 

 struggle into the river, another bullet in the head turned 

 him over on his back, and then, after two or three slow 

 movements of the legs, he remained motionless. Owing 

 to the depth of the river here we could not examine our 

 prize at the time, and therefore turned our steps home- 

 wards for assistance. On our way, Essafi was so excited 

 with the marvellous power of my rifle, that he wanted me 

 to fire at every monkey that crossed our path ; until at 

 last, seeing a splendid old gentleman perched on a high 

 bank about one hundred yards off calmly surveying us, 

 lie became so anxious for- me to fire, that I thought it 

 as well to so far please him, and, having taken a steady 

 aim, I put an end to its existence. Unfortunately the 

 bullet had completely smashed the skull, and therefore I 

 liad not even the poor satisfaction of keeping this in 



