SEIZED BY A CROCODILE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2466, 2 December 1886, Page 2

SEIZED BY A CROCODILE.

," The most dangerous savage foes w» have'to fear," said Stauley the «plor« "arothe crooodila,, hippopotamus, and buffalo. We lost five men during my last visit to the Congo .from thaw animals i three were killed by orooodilw, one by a hippopotamus, and one by a buffalo, There are large numbers of hippopotamus along the Congo and its tributaries, and thousands upon thousands of crocodiles. The latter oro by far th» moii inildiooß foes we have, because they are so siloni and so swift," . "You see.a man bathing in the river,"' said Mr Stanloy, with ona of his vivid, graphio touches; "ho is standing near the shore lautjhing at ypu, perhaps, laughing in the koen enjoyment of /tho bath; suddenly sea him no more, A Approached unseen, has struck him a blow with, its tail that knooks him over, and he is instantly seized and carried off. "Or it may bo that tho man is swim, raing; ho is totally unconscious of danraV there is nothingjn sight, nothing .to stiy a tremor of apprehension j but there/ia deep water, under tho shadow pf that rook, or hidden beneath the sholter of the troea yonder, is a huge crocodile; it has spotted the swimmer and is watching its opportunity; the swimmer approaches; he is within striking distance; stealthily, steadily, unperceived the creature makes for its prey, tho man knows nothing till he .is seized by the leg aqd dragged under, and he knows no more! A bubble or two indicate the place where he has gone down, and that is all." ■ ■■ •■