Kopas to Mlembo River 



sunny side of the trees. These caterpillars are the 

 kind natives cook and eat. 



Of leaf insects we saw several at different times : 

 one a bright green, a perfect imitation of a reed 

 blade, its folded wings the counterpart of a folded 

 bud. Another I captured at Mua an exact copy 

 of a bit of dried grass, but allowed it to escape, as I 

 had no killing bottle or collecting box. A third 

 insect was bright red poised among foliage of the 

 same colour. All were examples of the theory of 

 protective colouring in nature. 



In the early morning in the higher altitude the 

 sun shone on the glistening leaves of vivid green, 

 heavy with dew. Our men, pushing their way 

 through narrow paths, would often be saturated 

 with moisture, which was, however, quickly dried 

 by the sun. 



There is a great charm wandering far away from 

 the busy haunts of men, living close to Nature, the 

 great mother of all. It is not only a wonderful rest 

 to the nerves, but allows one's thoughts to expand 

 to higher levels than is possible in the crowded 

 atmosphere of home. 



After this digression I must return to our doings. 



We were very anxious about Maso and our box, 

 and were contemplating without any pleasure the 

 prospect of a journey to the coast in our camp kit, 

 though we thought it possible that the boys had 

 given up the cross-country journey and were pro- 

 ceeding direct to Mkushi to await us there. 



That afternoon I was sitting in front of the 

 tent when Laban rushed up with the news that 



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