Kazembe to Mpika 



off and given two yards of calico apiece as **posho." 

 They started off at once on the first stage of their 

 homeward march. We felt rather forlorn after their 

 departure, as we were left with only our Nyasaland 

 servants and hoys, and, in addition, three Dedza 

 carriers engaged at Fort Jameson, who had volun- 

 teered to go on with us to Broken Hill. They 

 rejoiced in the names of John, Chinkondu, and Jim, 

 and were as pleasant, useful lads as any in the 

 caravan. The two former joined my machilla team, 

 the latter carried the bedding bundle, which he 

 assisted Franco to pack every morning. 



It was hoped that our new carriers would turn up 

 by nightfall, but as they failed to do so, Mr. Melland 



kindly arranged to take A out next morning 



after situtunga. We dined at his house, meeting 

 Mr. Waterall, the assistant magistrate, and spent a 

 pleasant evening. 



The next morning A left with Mr. Melland 



and Mr. Waterall for the situtunga drive. They 

 started at lo a.m. for the large dambo through which 

 the marshy channel of the upper Nyamadzi runs, 

 commencing not very far from our last camping 

 ground ; they killed two bulls with inferior horns ; 

 no large bull was to be seen. As situtunga bush- 

 buck (Tragelophiis shakei) are rare and curious 



brutes, A was very anxious to secure a good 



specimen. These semi-aquatic animals live in the 

 marshy beds of rivers, feeding on the tops of the 

 papyrus reeds ; they are reddish-brown in colour, 

 with curious elongated cloven feet which enable 

 them to run with ease through and over the reeds ; 



i6i 



