DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 203 
The rains having quickly caused the Senegal to 
overflow its banks, and inundate the adjacent 
country, Adanson could no longer indulge in his 
rural excursions. He therefore took voyages to 
the isle of Goree and the mouth of the Gambia. 
Returning to the Senegal, he made a second 
voyage to Podor, and spent also a considerable 
time in making botanical excursions at the mouth 
of the river. Although this was going over old 
ground, yet some new objects occurred, which ap- 
pear deserving of notice. 
Crocodiles were not numerous at the mouth of 
the river ; but, as he ascended, they occurred often 
in parties of two or three hundred at a time. 
They floated often on the surface of the river ; 
above which nothing appeared but the head and 
part of the back. In this attitude they bear no re- 
semblance to living animals, but to trunks of trees 
floating on the water. The largest were from 15 
to 18 feet long. Our traveller bore a part in an 
attack which his attendants made upon one of these 
animals. A negro having espied it asleep at the foot 
of a tree, stole thither softly, and dexterously struck 
it in that part of the neck where there are neither 
bones nor scales, so that it was nearly cut through. 
The crocodile rising, struck with his tail such a 
blow as overset his opponent. He instantly rose, 
however, and wrapped his paan or cloak round 
the animal's jaw, while another held the tail, and a 
