Chap. XVI. IMPOSITION ON DON PEDRO V. 337 



they at once sprang overboard. The chameleon settled every 

 dispute in a twinkling. 



But besides their goodhumoured intercourse, they showed 

 humanity worthy of English sailors. A terrible scream 

 roused them up one night, and they pushed off in a boat 

 to the rescue. A crocodile had caught a woman, and was 

 dragging her across a shallow sandbank. Just as they came 

 up to her, she gave a fearful shriek : the horrid reptile had 

 snapped off her leg at the knee. They took her on board, 

 bandaged the limb as well as they could, and, not thinking 

 of any better way of showing their sympathy, gave her a 

 glass of rum, and carried her to a hut in the village. Next 

 morning they found the bandages torn off, and the un- 

 fortunate creature left to die. " I believe," remarked Howe, 

 one of the sailors, " her master was angry with us for saving 

 her life, seeing as how she had lost her leg." 



Having heard a great deal about a military and agri- 

 cultural colony, which was sent out by the late King of 

 Portugal, Don Pedro V., well known as a true-hearted 

 man, we felt much interest in an experiment begun under 

 his enlightened auspices. Immediately after our arrival at 

 Tette, we called upon the new Governor. His Excellency 

 coolly said that the king had been grossly deceived by 

 those appointed to select the men. He smiled at his Govern- 

 ment sending out military convicts as colonists; and said, 

 " These men are not fitted to do anything in the country ; 

 they know how to keep their arms clean, and nothing else. 

 Of what possible use was it to send agricultural implements 

 for men like these ? The Government is deceived respecting 

 Africa." 



