BUFFALOES AND CROCODILES 



put the crocodile eggs, and found that a few small rep- 

 tiles had cast off their shells. 



Our knowledge regarding the breeding of the ovipa- 

 rous African crocodiles, the care the female takes of the 

 eggs^which are hatched by the heat of the sun — and 

 of their voung, is rather meagre, but naturally so, con- 

 sidering the shyness of the animals. They are least shy 

 in the great lakes. I found many of them in the bays 

 and inlets of the Victoria - Nyanza living rather ami- 

 cably with the river-hogs and the native fishermen. It 

 appeared to me like a picture of paradise to see the 

 reed floats of the natives moving about on the waters 

 peopled by hundreds of reptiles, river-hogs, and birds 

 of all kinds. 



At last my patience in trying to get a good shot — 

 with camera and rifle — at the much-desired buft'aloes 

 seemed to become crowned by success. My Wando- 

 robbo men had seen a herd of about thirty at day- 

 break, and tracked them to a small swamp which they 

 had chosen as a resting-place for the day. After two 

 hours' march, I arrived at the small swamp. One of 

 my men climbed up a high locust - tree and pointed' 

 in the direction of the herd, while I tried to penetrate 

 into the reed thicket. It was a dangerous undertaking. 

 Up to my knees I waded for half an hour along in the 

 muddy swamj); every step was impeded by the luxu- 

 riant vegetation. When I finally got within shooting 

 distance of the spot pointed out by my man on the tree 



171 



