202 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



the bank of the river brought us opposite the carcases 

 of the three hippos, by which a number of crocodiles 

 were basking, having gorged themselves on the flesh. 

 Two shots with the telescopic sight, and one of them 

 gave a convulsive shiver and then lay still, while 

 another snapped his jaws, but had apparently lost the 

 power of moving his body. While the caravan went 

 on, I and four men started to cross the river to secure 

 one of the skins. The water was swift and came above 

 the waist, while the stones in the river-bed were very 

 slippery. Being unaccustomed to go barefooted, I 

 suffered considerably, continually damaging my feet in 

 my efforts to prevent myself being swept away, and, 

 had it not been for my men's assistance, I should never 

 have got across without swimming. The thought of 

 those dozens of crocodiles a little way off did not add to 

 my ease of mind. However, we all got over safely, and, 

 after spreading out most of my clothing to dry, soon 

 had the beast dragged into the shade. It was 9 feet 

 long and just about as much as the four men could lift. 

 While we were skinning it, some little animal attacked 

 the felt cover of my water-bottle and devoured a great 

 patch of it. Having secured the crocodile, we recrossed 

 the river and set out after the caravan. We crossed 

 the Mogga, a finely wooded side -nulla, with a stream 

 of clear water 5 yards wide, the whole place a network 

 of hippo-tracks. The heat was great, and after walking 

 for an hour, we halted under the shade of some trees. 

 While we were lying here half asleep a man passed, 

 with all his clothes carried in a bundle on his head. 

 Behind him came a cow and a calf, driven by another 



