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CHAP. XI. Since leaving the country bordering the Iharoka, we had found the traveller’s tree intermingled with the rofia palm; hut the former was now most abundant, and from its numbers, size, and healthy growth, imparted, by its own striking and singular structure, and its masses of broad foliage, a peculiar character to the landscape. Sometimes, for miles together, it was the chief, if not the only, species of tree that was seen. After descending from the village where we had halted, we came to a river of the same name, about forty yards wide, and so deep that the hearers were up to their waists, and were obliged to raise the poles of my palanquin from their shoulders to the top of their heads, to keep me above the water, while the relay of bearers walked in front and by the sides, shouting, and beating the water with branches and poles. The river, they said, was infested with crocodiles, and within a short time before we passed six persons had been destroyed by them, while crossing at the same place. Crocodiles were said to be in all the rivers and lakes we had passed since leaving the neighbourhood of the sea, where the water is brackish, and where they are never seen. In the region over which we had passed they are about fifteen feet long, but in other parts are much larger. It is said that they may at times be seen chasing the fish in the lakes, and often watching for prey among the reeds and other kinds of shelter near the margin of the water. The crocodiles feed chiefly on fish, but will seize and devour bullocks, dogs, or any other animal quietly approaching or entering the water. In some parts of the island they were said to be so ferocious as to attack and upset canoes, and then prey upon the hapless voyagers they contained. The crocodiles deposit their eggs in the sand on the shore, and prey upon any animal they may find on the land. The late Mr. Hastie, when once sleeping near a river, was awoke by the piteous whine of a favourite dog, which always slept at the door of his tent, and rushing out,
