TALE OF A CROCODILE. 
7 
island called Geizet-il-Arab — a choice resort of croeodiles — in 
search of their eggs. Going the round of the island^, three 
crocodiles escaped into the river^ and on closely investigating the 
spot, a quantity of eggs were discovered in the sand. No sooner 
had they made off with their booty in the direction of a small 
tent which they had pitched, than a crocodile, having watched 
their proceedings, rushed to the place of her deposit, and as rapidly 
returned to the river, and, swimming, followed them opposite to 
their destination, where until nightfall her eyes were perceptible 
above the water. Their repast that night was a rich one ; but as 
soon as the last embers of their fire had died away, the crocodile 
charged them furiously, repeating her attack several times during 
the night, and it was only by the frequent discharge of their fire- 
arms that they kept her from closing upon them. From that time 
the crocodile, hitherto harmless, became furious, and fell upon all 
the cattle it could catch upon the river-side. Among many victims 
was a fine mare belonging to an Arab in the village of NegaT-il- 
Arab, half an hour’s walk from the river. The mare, as is usual, 
was allowed her freedom to graze in the eoarse abundant pasturage, 
and, whilst drinking, was suddenly seized in the back of the neck 
by the jaws of the crocodile. The mare being an animal of great 
power, in an agony of pain, violently threw up her head, and with 
it the crocodile, which dropped on her back, and, with her un- 
wonted burden, she galloped off to her stable. The astonished 
villagers belaboured the crocodile so heartily with their nahoot 
(stout sticks, common to every Fellah) that it was soon induced to 
let go its hold and dismount; but the mare died from the joint 
effects of its wounds and the fright. 
^^The breeding season of the crocodile takes place during the 
low stage of the river in March, and they deposit their eggs in the 
