DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14563#0153
CHAPTER XVI.
crocodiles.
There are no crocodiles to be seen north of Minieh, in
latitude 28°. As I have before remarked, the Arabs believe,
that at that point a prophet or saint arrests their progress up
the river, by turning them over on their backs, through
some incantation, or possibly by spiritual magnetism. Mr.
Wilkinson speaks of having seen them on the bank opposite
Minieh. We had ordered a sharp look-out to be kept for
them as we ascended the river, but had almost begun to
despair of seeing them, when, as we were lying near
Bellianeh, in latitude 2G°, we descried seven of these huge
creatures basking in the sun, upon the little sand bars that
jut out from the opposite shore. They were from twelve
to twenty feet in length, with enormous jaws, and huge
serrated tails. They all seemed to be asleep, and in one
spot two were lying quite cozily together. The next day
we again saw five in a similar position, basking on the.sand
in the sweltering noon, entirely out of water. We could
not get very near them on account of the shoals ; but one
of the sailors fired a gun, the report of which startled them,
and in an instant they precipitated themselves into the river
with a most ungainly waddle. We never saw any after this,
and, indeed, our re'is informed us in his broken English, that
crocodilo was finish, a welcome announcement, since it
enabled us to enjoy, without fear, our bath in the oily-
smooth waters of the Nile. The crocodiles are probably
crocodiles.
There are no crocodiles to be seen north of Minieh, in
latitude 28°. As I have before remarked, the Arabs believe,
that at that point a prophet or saint arrests their progress up
the river, by turning them over on their backs, through
some incantation, or possibly by spiritual magnetism. Mr.
Wilkinson speaks of having seen them on the bank opposite
Minieh. We had ordered a sharp look-out to be kept for
them as we ascended the river, but had almost begun to
despair of seeing them, when, as we were lying near
Bellianeh, in latitude 2G°, we descried seven of these huge
creatures basking in the sun, upon the little sand bars that
jut out from the opposite shore. They were from twelve
to twenty feet in length, with enormous jaws, and huge
serrated tails. They all seemed to be asleep, and in one
spot two were lying quite cozily together. The next day
we again saw five in a similar position, basking on the.sand
in the sweltering noon, entirely out of water. We could
not get very near them on account of the shoals ; but one
of the sailors fired a gun, the report of which startled them,
and in an instant they precipitated themselves into the river
with a most ungainly waddle. We never saw any after this,
and, indeed, our re'is informed us in his broken English, that
crocodilo was finish, a welcome announcement, since it
enabled us to enjoy, without fear, our bath in the oily-
smooth waters of the Nile. The crocodiles are probably