[chap. v.
muddy torrent. This was quite enough for the
Arabs, who had been watching the event from the
opposite bank of the river, and the report quickly
spread that two crocodiles were killed, one of which
they declared to be the public enemy that had
taken the men at the ferry, but upon what. evidence
I cannot understand. Although my Arabs looked
forward to a dinner of crocodile flesh, I was obliged
to search for something of rather milder flavour
for ourselves. I waited for about an hour while
the first crocodile was being divided, when I took
a shot gun and succeeded in killing three geese
and a species of antelope no larger than a hare,
known by the Arabs as the Dik-dik {Nanotragus
Hemprichianus). This little creature inhabits thick
bush. Since my return to England, I have seen
a good specimen in the Zoological Gardens of the
Eegent’s Park.
Upon my arrival at the tents, I found the camp
redolent of musk from the flesh of the crocodile,
and the people were quarrelling for the musk
glands, which they had extracted, and which are
much prized by the Arab women, who wear them
strung like beads upon a necklace.
A crocodile possesses four of such glands ; they
vary in size according to the age of the reptile,
but they are generally about as large as a hazel
nut, when dried. Two glands are situated in the
groin, and two in the throat, a little in advance of
the forelegs. I have noticed two species of crocoFIRST
RUSH OF THE GIRAFFES. See page 190.