10 
TEAYELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
and seeing nothing to fear^ will lie down^ but will for some time 
retain its head elevated on the watch. Gradually overcome with 
sleep by the influence of the sun_, the head at length drops_, until 
prostrate upon the sand. Saleh^ who has been narrowly watching 
the above proceedings from behind his bulwark^ and whose nerves 
have been as irritable as those of his unconscious prey tranquil^ fires^ 
and if fortunate enough to plant his ball in the brain^ the crocodile, 
after a twitch or two of the tail, remains on the spot ; but if, although 
hit hard, that organ has remained intact, the crocodile attempts to 
escape, pursued by our hero, who seizes the tail, and, lifting its 
extremity as high as possible from the ground, thus rendering the 
animal powerless, so succeeds in arresting his progress for a second, 
until a companion hunter shall have battered in its skull with 
an axe. 
This, Saleh admits, is dangerous work, but practice makes per- 
fect. If the wounded animal is conscious of his approach, the tail 
is instantly curved to receive him. Placing himself within the arc 
described by it, he escapes injury; but if on the wrong side, a blow 
from it might be fatal. « 
At Shallal we received the hospitality of the Roman Catholic 
mission, settled here most comfortably. They had abandoned their 
station at Gondokoro, and also their important one at Khartoum, 
so many of their followers having died. At this place boats were 
hired to convey us to Korosko, and we went on board another 
dahahyeh, destitute of the comforts of the last. 
Miani, the Italian traveller, who reported he had reached a place 
called Guluffl, far in the interior of Africa, paid us a visit. He 
was on his way to Cairo direct from Khartoum, disappointed in his 
hope of reaching Gondokoro, and continuing his researches, having 
been supplied with ample funds by the Egyptian Government to 
