170 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
hookas were beaten and my favourite songs were given in succes- 
sion. Of course the usual firing on these occasions^ and all the 
morning the sandal was passing to and fro with our people to kiss 
our hands and offer their felicitations. 
At four p.m. a severe storm arose : the dahabyeh dragged her 
anchor and had to be made fast to the reeds. No dinner to-dav, 
as the fire cannot be kept lighted. 
July "ZOth, Sunday . — A few soldiers and negroes return from 
Ad or. They report a terrible occurrence which took place yester- 
day in that vicinity. A chief of a village was passing through a 
wood in advance of his followers^ when a lion sprang upon him_, 
killing him instantly. The negroes rescued the body, the lion 
escaping. 
At midday one of the crew came to the cabin where we were 
busily writing our letters for home, and said, A crocodile is not 
far from the dahabyeh^ Consul : you might get a shot at him.^^ 
Petherick did so : for a second the monster lashed the water with 
his tail, then turned over, yellow stomach upwards. Some of the 
men in the felucca, returning to the Lady of the Nile,^^ picked 
him up, and he was brought on board. He proved to be a monitor, 
not a crocodile. The ball had entered the head, smashing it. The 
length from head to tail by measurement was six feet eight inches. 
The monitor is a gigantic lizard, I am told, and perfectly harmless. 
No rain to-day; the thermometer in the shade 84°. 
July ^2nd . — Again sprung aleak and had to return to the swamp. 
Faring very badly, as the negroes will not part with their cattle 
unless at an exorbitant price. Everything sent to a tookul on 
shore, there being no safety from water on board. 
