HUNTING IN THE MOUNTAINS 



the other black, with a red beak, very similar to the 

 water-rail of our marshes. 



During my stay here I was able to study the fishes 

 of the country, and also the modes of catching them 

 in use among the natives, who are skilful fishermen 

 with rod and line, and could easily give points to 

 many of our experts. 



They also make various kinds of nets for catching 

 different sorts of fish, and are acquainted with torch- 

 light fishing and fishing with bows and arrows. 

 Moreover, they make use of several plants with nar- 

 cotic powers, like Indian hemp, which enable them 

 to make tremendous catches. These plants are a 

 kind of Tephrosia which they call tika, a large tree 

 they call n'houpa, and a kind of cucurbitaceous plant. 

 Their fruits, or crushed berries, are mixed with flour, 

 making a bait which the natives throw into the water. 

 Almost directly a fish has tasted this mixture it rises 

 to the surface floating on its back. 



As I am always travelling, I have naturally made 

 acquaintance with the most repulsive portion of the 

 animal kingdom, namely reptiles, and before finishing 

 with Manica I must say a word about those I have 

 come across. The Kafirs have such a horror of these 

 serpents that every native will tell you that all snakes, 

 even the most inoffensive ones, are venomous, and 

 will relate terrible stories of them, especially if he 

 thinks you are likely to oblige him by catching some. 

 Many of these tales are invented. Among the numerous 



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