Mpika to Kopas 



warthog, and returned to camp hopeful as to the 

 prospects of sport for the morrow. 



It was at this camp that I first observed a 

 charming plant, a ground orchid {Lissochilus 

 arenarius)y growing in the grass. It was pale 

 mauve in colour and had a delicate scent. I also 

 found some large flowering crocus : mauve, purple, 

 and white, and dug up some of the bulbs. Aspar- 

 agus fern was also plentiful. 



I find a note in my diary to say that the weather 

 was growing very hot. 



Next morning, the nth, our route took us along 

 .the Kaukibia so far as its junction with the Luatikila 

 river, where we crossed and proceeded towards 

 Kopas. The forest had been left behind, and our 

 track traversed a large cultivated plain bordering 

 on marshes, which looked as if they stretched right 

 away to Lake Bangwelo. Here the sun was 

 fiercely hot, and we were heartily glad to reach 

 the village, a large one, about ii a.m. The 

 inhabitants received us with acclamation, and 

 numbers of men and women turned out to 

 welcome and conduct us to the usual travellers' 

 rest-house, a ramshackle looking, straw-covered 

 wooden erection, standing under a big tree, amidst 

 the gardens, and about half a mile from the village. 

 We declined to remain here at any price, so were 

 taken a short distance further on, and had our tents 

 pitched among the trees on the edge of the forest. 

 Women and children collected in swarms, impelled 

 by their desire to see a white woman, and squatted 

 down close to the tent, watching every movement. 



i8i 13 



