A HOT TRIP TO THE LUANGWA RIVER. 83 



Leaving two men to skin and cut it up, I went on, but only saw a herd of roan 

 running off. I found an eland skull, which animal had probably been killed by a lion 

 some time ago. 



We went on next day, crossing the Lopandi many times. At one place I saw the 

 junction of the Kasanengwa stream with the Lopandi river. The latter was over one 

 hundred yards broad, and the former only twenty paces across, at the point of 

 juncture. I made a bad miss at a bushbuck near here, but as I saw it was a female 

 when it ran off I did not regret it. At times it is very difficult to tell the sex of a 

 small buck standing in thick cover, for one has to shoot quickly before the animal 

 runs away. 



The rays of the sun were terrific on this day, but the carriers came along well. 

 Although the native has much to despise in his nature, such as his lying and 

 thieving propensities, there is a lot to admire in his character, for he is uncomplaining 

 under hardship, and even good-tempered. 



On the 7th I slept at a village called Ngania, which I reached at 5 p.m., having 

 left the previous camp at 2.30 p.m. 



I felt rather ill here with a touch of fever, but a hard walk in the sun often 

 makes one perspire, and consequently feel better. 



Next day I reached Kamtandi's village, situated on the Lopandi river, close to 

 its junction with the Luangwa. 



The previous evening, after I had got to bed, two of the carriers came to the 

 tent and said they had seen a lion when going down to the water-hole to get water. 



Although I did not think it much good, I took my rifle, and went down with them 

 to the place. 



The moon was full, and it was a beautifully clear night, and there was no 

 difficulty about seeing the spoor. 



The lion had been standing on the top of the bank down which he had rushed 

 when the men came round a corner on the path. He then ran a short distance 

 on the sand and went into some matete (spear grass). As this place was 

 impenetrable, I walked along the bank for some distance, but saw nothing, so went 

 back to bed. 



The country all along the banks of the Lopandi and Luangwa is very beautiful, 

 there being numbers of the lovely Chiwali palm about, besides the grotesque baobabs 

 and other tropical-looking trees and bushes. 



Before the sun rose on the 9th I was up and off into the bush, accompanied by 

 some of the villagers, besides two of my own men. Just after we left the village we 

 saw a herd of roan antelope, which were quite tame, and allowed us to get close to 



