THE CROCODILE 269 



specially designed for holding, and their tenacity 

 is such Ihat they will frequently allow themselves 

 to be drawn from the water and speared rather 

 than loosen that terrible, remorseless grip. One 

 or two cases, however, of escape from crocodiles 

 are within my recollection. One was that of a 

 Blantyre Mission boy who was seized in the Shire 

 River near Katungas. Fortunately he was en- 

 abled to grasp a neighbouring tree branch, and 

 no doubt his assailant was of small size. In any 

 case he held on, yelling loudly for help, which 

 luckily came in the nick of time. The second 

 case was less fortunate, for although delivered 

 from the jaws of the crocodile in circumstances 

 similar to those described in the preceding in- 

 stance, the unhappy native died under the 

 anaesthetic employed in the amputation which his 

 injuries rendered necessary. 



In crossing African rivers known to be haunted 

 by crocodiles the safest plan, although one not 

 always effective, is to do so accompanied by a 

 number of natives splashing and shouting loudly. 

 I remember on one occasion having to ford the 

 Urema River in Cheringoma together with about 

 forty carriers and servants. The water was about 

 waist-deep, and as we glanced up and down the ill- 

 omened stream we could see the horrible coffin- 

 shaped heads of at least a dozen large crocodiles 

 both above and below us. Before venturing 

 into the water I fired several shots from a mag- 

 azine rifle, and made my men shout loudly and 

 together. The heads withdrew and we began the 

 crossing. I was shouldered over by two stalwart 



