CROCODILES. 67 



The boldness and ferocity of this species is 

 well illustrated by the account narrated by a 

 correspondent of the Times, of an incident 

 which occurred during a journey to Mashona- 

 land. One evening while crossing the Tokui 

 River on horseback a man named Williams was 

 seized by the leg by a crocodile and dragged 

 from his horse into the stream. He was, how- 

 ever, immediately released and succeeded in 

 swimming to a small island. But a comrade 

 who rode in to his assistance fared almost as- 

 badly, for another crocodile sprang up between 

 him and his horse's neck, then slipped back, and 

 in doing so, made with its claws a dreadful 

 wound in his side, and in the horse's neck. 

 Williams ultimately died of his wounds. It is 

 said, indeed, that more people are killed by 

 crocodiles than by any other of the wild beasts 

 of Africa. 



In Madagascar this crocodile digs long sub- 

 terranean passages of from thirty to forty feet 

 in length, the passage opening below the level 

 of the water, and rising gently terminates in 

 a chamber large enough to allow of the creature 

 to turn its huge body round. To admit air, the 

 roof of this chamber is pierced by numerous 

 holes. Into these lairs the crocodile retires to 

 devour his prey, or to escape danger. In this 

 last endeavour, however, they often fail, for 

 natives, guided by the air-holes, dig them out 

 from above. 



Known as Ohampsa by the ancient Egyptians, 

 this crocodile was held by them in great rever- 

 ence, numbers being kept and tended with the 



