Kopas to Mlembo River 



that the far bank was firmer and less marshy than 

 the side we had just left, and that the village was 



close by. A 's crossing was more adventurous 



than mine. He got into a canoe and sat down in 

 the centre with his precious *5oo-bore rifle on his 

 knees. The canoe was pushed off, but so soon as 

 her nose was clear of the mud his weight brought 

 a break, some six inches long in her prow, to the 

 level of the water, which flowed in freely. He was 

 quickly on shore again, and his remarks on dug-outs 

 in general, and this one in particular, soon produced 

 a safer conveyance. While waiting on the bank we 

 saw something swimming in the water that looked 

 like a large water-snake, but which turned out to be 

 an otter. 



The crossing took some time, but everything 

 was brought safely over. There were ten boatmen, 

 and each man received threepence, with which they 

 were perfectly satisfied. The photograph gives a 

 very good idea of the scene. 



The village of Kalonge was situated on the 

 southern bank, close to the river, which was a fairly 

 large one. The villagers were great fishermen, and 

 if we are entitled to judge from the number of skins 

 lying about, were great hunters as well. We passed 

 round it, and camped in some fields on the far side, 

 near the edge of a backwater, not by any means 

 an ideal spot, and at any other season of the year 

 we must have suffered severely from mosquitoes. 

 However, it was getting late, and the men were 

 tired, so we had to make the best of it. Next 



morning A found that half-a-mile further on 



189 



