Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa; With Accounts of the Manners and Customs of the People, and of the Chase of the Gorilla, the ... Elephant, Hippopotamus, and Other Animals baixar o livro de graça

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ...and one of the men brought me a piece of izomba meat. The izomba is a turtle. The meat is excellent; and when I inquired about the animal, I found reason to believe it a new species. The best way to take it 13 to watch for it on some of the islands in the lake, whither it goes to lay its eggs by night. I went out in a boat the same night, and we were so lucky as to turn one great turtle just as she was done laying. She had noticed us, silent as our approach was, and had nearly escaped. I found to my joy next morning that it was really a new species. On the 14th I gave Shimbouvenegani two pieces of cotton cloth, some tobacco, and beads, and returned to Damagondai's town. Here I found a canoe from King Ranpano, to say that a vessel was on the coast by which I could send things to America if I wished. I determined to go down immediately and send some specimens off. On our return to Damagondai's town, as we were paddling along, I perceived in the distance ahead a beautiful deer, looking meditatively into the waters of the lagoon, of which from time to time it took a drink. I stood up to get a shot, and we approach-278 CROCODILE AM) DEEB. ed with the utmost silence. But, just as I raised mj gun to fire, a crocodile leaped out of the water, and, like a flash, dove back again with the struggling animal in his powerful jaws. So quickly did the beast take his prey that, though I fired at him, I was too late. I do not think my bullet hit him. If it did, it struck some impenetrable part of his mail. I would not have believed that this huge and unwieldy animal could move with such velocity; but the natives told me that the deer often falls prey to the crocodile. Sometimes he even catches the leopard, but then there-is a harder battle than the poor little...