254 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



the trees in any direction I wished, but such work required 

 the attendance of a good guide. Jambus (Jambosa spp.) 

 seemed to be among the most common trees, and their long 

 white stamened flowers, falling on the water, glided down the 

 stream like so many stars. The whole surface of the water 

 was covered, absolutely in a close sheet, with petals, fruits 

 and leaves, of innumerable species. In placid corners some- 

 times I noted a collected mnss nearly half a foot deep, among 

 which, on examination, I could scarcely find a leaf that was 

 perfect, or that remained attached to its rightful neighbour, 

 so that were they to become imbedded in some soft muddy 

 spot, and in after ages to reappear in fossil form, they would 

 afford a few difficult puzzles to the Palaeontologist, both to 

 separate and to put together. 



In many of these places the water reached to the great 

 depth of 60 and 70 feet, and swarmed with crocodiles. 

 While shooting one day on such a spot, from a small skiff 

 capable of holding only myself and the man who oared it, I 

 fired at a bird among some stranded logs, and the recoil of my 

 gun, perched as I was on the tip of the prau, overbalanced 

 me into the water. Had not at the moment of falling my 

 left hand unconsciously caught the side of the boat, I should 

 have fared ill, for I had instinctively clutched my fowling- 

 piece, and was besides wearing a pair of heavy shooting boots. 

 My weight on the side would have capsized the skiff had not 

 my rower righted it by a self-preservatory act, which di'ew my 

 head out of the water, when I scrambled into the boat. The 

 poor fellow was utterly paralysed with terror, and presented so 

 comical a countenance that I could not help laughing at him. 

 He would scarcely allow me to move again in the boat, and 

 had I not used threats, he would have paddled me back to the 

 village without waiting even to pick up the bird I had shot. 

 " What would have awaited me," he moaned in a most com- 

 plaining tone, as if I had jumped into the river to bring woe 

 on him, " if I had rowed you out and returned without you ? 

 The whole village," he sobbed, the tears actually appearing on 

 his eyelids, " would not have been able to pay the blood-money 

 for you, and I should never have been able to stay, any longer 

 there." Not a word escaped him as to my feelings on encoun- 

 tering a crocodile. He was evidently relieved of the heaviest 



