X SPEARING FISH 197 



their womenfolk, amidst much clapping of hands and 

 other manifestations of joy, and I have no doubt it 

 proved the best meal the poor creatures had had for 

 many a long day. 



Whilst returning to camp, my conductors speared 

 two fine fish (a species of perch), which, fried in 

 elephant's fat, formed a welcome addition to my 

 supper. They throw these spears with considerable 

 accuracy into the midst of a shoal — whose course is 

 marked by the ripp")les on the surface — trusting to 

 chance to impale something, and for every fish they 

 bring to bag make, on an average, about a hundred 

 casts. These spears are very ingeniously made, and 

 are barbed in a fearful manner ; the small end of the 

 shaft, which is long and tapering, is usually inserted 

 into a hollow reed, which counterbalances the weight 

 of the iron head, and floats to the top. My gun- 

 carriers had, during my absence, followed and killed 

 the buffalo bull I had wounded in the morning, 

 so that there was an abundance of meat for all my 

 numerous followers. 



Before daylight the next morning I stirred up the 

 Kafirs, and set them to work to tie up the meat and 

 get the canoes packed, and just as the sun was rising 

 we were again under way. After skirting along the 

 shore for some two hours, we reached the point where 

 it was necessary to quit the mainland and strike across 

 the marsh to the islands where I hoped to find 

 elephants. As we advanced into the verdure-studded 

 swamp, the long line of forest-covered sand-ridges that 

 bounded it to the south grew gradually blue in the 

 distance, and finally disappeared altogether. About 

 two hours before sundown we reached a large island, 

 where my guides wished me to pass the night ; so, 

 concluding that they knew best, we at once went 



