FIGHT WITH A CROCODILE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8794, 23 April 1907, Page 1

FIGHT WITH A CROCODILE.

A correspondent of the Field gives the following narrative: —It was at the latter end of 1004 that I was coming down the Upper Niger in one the Government stern-wheelers (capillie) from Brunaji to Lokoja, where I was going to change steamers and proceed up the Benue river, when the following occurred : We were in hopes of reaching Lokoja at about 8 p.m. We arrived a little after midnight. The next morning, my early tea not appearing, I called for my hoy, an Ejau, Southern Nigeria, and was told by the cook that he had not been [seen since the previous night. I naturally concluded that the young beggar had gone down to the native town on the spree, and was somewhat surprised, as he was a, very quiet and ; good boy. At 1.30 p.m. a native canoe came along side, I was told my boy was in it, and on going to see I found him, or what was left of him. He was an awful sight, being covered from head to foot in clotted blood and sand. He told me that while passing Jamitar he had fallen overboard, but could make no one hear. The current being very strong, he had some difficulty in reaching the shore, splendid swimmer though he was. He was just getting into shallow water when a crocodile caught him by the legs. He fought the brute, and managed somehow to free his legs, and it went for him again, and caught him by the head ; but he again freed himslfe, and managed to crawl ashore. Considering he had no weapon, I could not quite see how it was possible to protect himself in any way. He, however, explained the mystery to me. It was done by pushing his thumbs into the brute's eyes; but in doing this he had both arms bitten to rags, but no bones broken. The wound in the head was most curious. One large tooth had gone in just behind the left eyeball, and several others on the top of the head. Six broken teeth were taken out of the top of his head, and the eye was not injured. I sent him to the native hospital of Lakoja, with instructions to the Niger Company to advance him money up to a certain sum if necessary, and he recovered and after wards rejoined me.