adanson's narrative. 
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 
appear 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 
resemblance 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 op- 
ponent. He instantly rose, however, and wrap- 
ped his paan or cloak round the animal's jaw, 
while another held the tail, and a third mounted 
