From Elephant Khcdder to Crocodile Tank 383 



appeared, the saddleless horse meantime making its 

 way down-stream and rejoining the others. 



My experiences with muggers in India must end 

 with a quotation from that great authority Sir Samuel 

 Baker, in the shape of a description of his which has 

 always struck me. 



" The largest crocodiles I ever saw were of such 

 extraordinary dimensions that I could scarcely believe 

 the reality, although within only a few yards of our 

 canoe. I had a life's experience among these creatures, 

 but I never had the faintest conception that such 

 monsters were in existence. 



" We were travelling up a river bordered upon 

 either side by lofty papyrus and sombre forests, when 

 we observed a small island, a portion of the area being 

 overgrown with the very graceful but mournful-looking 

 rush. This had taken root in a shallow soil ; hard 

 granite formed the basis of the isle. 



" The bare, grey granite shelved gradually towards 

 the water and exposed a clear surface of about sixty 

 feet. Upon this were large, round bodies resembling 

 boulders of rock which had resisted the process of 

 gradual disintegration. 



" The canoe drew near, and when within about 

 twenty yards the great boulders of granite began to 

 move ! I could not believe my eyes ! Great masses 

 began to unfold, and in a few seconds resolved them- 

 selves into two vast forms, each as thick as the body 

 of a hippopotamus and of enormous length. These 

 two antediluvian monsters glided slowly and fearlessly 



