XIII 
THE CROCODILE 
4i 
neighbouring chief, who was to make use of the 
milk, but to be responsible for the safety of the 
cows. 
Upon my return, two years after, the chief 
appeared, and, in reply to my question, he declared 
that the cows were all well, and that one of them 
was regarded with veneration by all his people. 
Every morning fresh flowers were garlanded around 
her horns, and she had become the sheik of all the 
herds, because she had accomplished a feat which 
had never been performed by any other animal. 
She had caught a crocodile ! 
This proved to be correct. She had gone to the 
river to drink, in a place where the bank shelved 
very gradually towards the water. As she was 
drinking, a large crocodile seized her by the nose, 
and in the usual manner attempted to drag her into 
its own element. Instead of this, the bank being 
favourable, the heavy and powerful cow commenced 
the game of “tug-of-war,” and as the crocodile 
maintained its hold, the cow, instead of being 
dragged in, succeeded in dragging the attacking 
party out. Nothing would induce the tenacious 
monster to let go; therefore by degrees, whilst 
struggling, both the cow and crocodile retreated 
many yards from the river’s margin. The natives 
were attracted by the bellowing of the cow, and 
seeing the position, they at once rushed to the 
rescue, and mobbed the crocodile with their spears. 
They had kept the head as a trophy ; and the cow 
was regarded as a heroine. 
