fairly commenced. The canoe-men were quite positive that
crocodiles frequently stun men by striking them with their
tails, and then squat on them till they are drowned. We
once caught a young crocodile, which certainly did use its tail
to inflict sharp blows, and led us to conclude that the native
opinion is correct. They believed also that, if a person shuts
the beast’s eyes, it lets go its hold. Crocodiles have been
known to unite and kill a large one of their own species and
eat it.* Some fishermen throw the bones of the fish into
the river, but in most of the fishing villages there are heaps
of them in various places. The villagers can walk over them
without getting them into their feet; but the Makololo, from
having softer soles, are unable to do so. The explanation
offered was, that the fishermen have a medicine against
fish-bones, but that they will not reveal it to the Makololo.
We spent a night on Mparira island, which is four miles
long and about one mile broad. Mokompa, the headman,
was away hunting elephants. His wife sent for him on our
arrival, and he returned next morning before we left. Taking
advantage of the long-continued drought, he had set fire to
the reeds between the Chobe and Zambesi, in such a manner
as to drive the game out at one corner, where his men laid
in wait with their spears. He had killed five elephants and
three buffaloes, wounding several others which escaped.
On our land party coming up, we were told that the oxen
were bitten by the tsetse * they could see a great difference
* A greater variety of fishes are
pn the same authority found above
than below the Falls. Of those above
they name: — Mpofn—Mo—Nijnje—
Ngwesi—Moshona— Nembwe — See'o
Lobotu—Lobangwa— Motome — Ne-
mbele—Litore —Leshuala or Ndomhe
— Linyonga — Mpala — Jorungo —
Likeya—Moshiba — Bundo— Seto—
Minga—Lisinje.
In addition to these, say twenty
fishes, they mention Mumbo, called
also by the Bashubia Mohumbwe,
which seems to be a kind of saw-fish,
and Likala, or fiala, the Lepidosiren
in the Barotse Valley.
in their looks. One was already eaten, and they now wished to
slaughter another. A third fell into a buffalo-pit next day,
so our stock was soon reduced. A man, who accompanied
us to the Falls, was a great admirer of the ladies. Every
pretty girl he saw filled his heart with rapture. “ Oh, what
a beauty! never saw her like before; I wonder if she is
married?” and earnestly and lovingly did he gaze after the
charming one till she had passed out of sight. He had four
wives at home, and hoped to have a number more before
long, but he had only one child; this Mormonism does not
seem to satisfy; it leads to a state of mind which, if not
disease, is truly contemptible. The Batqka Chief, Moshobot-
wane, again treated us with his usual hospitality, giving us
an ox, some meal, and milk We took another view of the
grand Mosi-oa-tunya, and planted a quantity of seeds in the
garden on the island; but, as no one will renew the hedge,
the hippopotami will, doubtless, soon destroy what we planted.
Mashotlane assisted us. So much power was allowed to this
under-chief, that he appeared as if he had cast off the
authority of Sekeletu altogether. He did not show much
courtesy to his messengers; instead of giving them food, aa
is customary, he took the meat out of a pot in their presence,
and handed it to his own followers. This may have been
because Sekeletu’s men bore an order to him to remove to
Linyanti. He khad not only insulted Baldwin, but had also
driven away the Griqua traders; but this may all end in
nothing. "Some of the natives here, and at Sesheke, know
a few of the low tricks of more civilized traders. A pot
of milk was brought to us one evening, which was more
indebted to the Zambesi than to any cow. Baskets of fine-
looking white meal, elsewhere, had occasionally the lower half
filled with bran. Eggs are always a perilous investment.
The native idea of a good egg differs as widely from our own
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