64 
Sevejt Years in Central Africa. 
[Oct. 
INDEBTED TO CROCODILES FOR FOOD. 
After leaving Nyambe we were dependent entirely for food on 
what we might kill in the bush. We were unfortunate in this, 
however, and were obliged to have recourse to rather mean ways 
of getting our supper. Crocodiles abound in this great river, 
and they are very artful. When the larger game come down to 
drink they creep up, and seizing them by the nose, drag them 
under the water. By this means the crocodiles always have their 
larders well supplied. It is their custom to hide the food thus 
obtained under the river's bank until it becomes rather putrid, 
and to bring it to the surface for airing before eating. I used to 
lie on the bank of the river and watch these animals come up 
with perhaps a quarter of an antelope, and by firing at their 
heads I compelled them to drop their supper, which my men 
picked up from their boats, but it afforded us anything but a 
dainty feast. 
On one occasion we made for the deserted camp of some 
elephant hunters, hoping to pick up their scraps. My men got a 
few bones to boil, and I tried to pound and boil for a long time 
a piece of elephant's skin; but, after all, it was not possible to 
eat it. 
As we approached the Gonye Falls the men had to carry the 
goods overland for three miles, and afterwards come back for the 
boats, so that we were delayed some days. I tried very hard to 
walk across the belt of sand, but failed completely, and my men 
had to rig up a hammock, and carry me after the boats and goods 
had been got over. We were entertained at the town of Silomba, 
a small river chief, who provided us with a little meal and maize- 
corn. 
BOAT SINKS. 
From this point the banks of the river are less steep, and the 
country around is more flat. A terrific hurricane from the south- 
west burst upon us one afternoon, lashing the river into violent 
waves, and compelling my boatmen to flee for shelter. No 
sooner had we touched the bank than my canoe, which had been 
gradually filling, sank. Nothing, however, floated away, as the 
men had taken the precaution to bind my bundles to the canoe 
with cords. So long as the storm lasted we could do nothing but 
