Kopas to Mlembo River 



were shot, as also a fine specimen of Crawshay's 

 waterbuck (C defassa Crawshayi), 



The shooting delayed us somewhat, so that we 

 took two hours to reach the junction of the Mlembo 

 with the Kasanka river, where we halted for break- 

 fast. The Kasanka was during the last mile or so 

 of its course little better than a stream running 

 through a marsh, which in a wet season must be 

 troublesome to cross. 



Soon after breakfast we reached the point where 

 the track to Musiro branched southward through the 

 forest ; but as the prospect of sport seemed good, 

 and as Musiro was several hours' distant, we preferred 

 to follow the Mlembo and Luambwa rivers, and 

 eventually camped in the forest under some beautiful 

 trees a couple of miles or so to the eastward of their 

 junction. That afternoon *' Cooky," who was fond 

 of prospecting, found about fifty crocodile eggs on a 

 sandbank in the river bed and brought them to us, 

 thinking we might like an omelette. This we de- 

 clined, but I fancy others were less fastidious. 



A again saw plenty of puku, but no other 



game, though a couple of men who went along the 

 river to buy flour declared they had seen a roan 

 antelope. 



The day had been very hot, but a heavy thunder- 

 storm, which broke towards evening, quickly sent the 

 temperature down. 



The explanation some natives give of a thunder- 

 storm is very curious. The great crocodile of the air 

 is anxious to come to earth, so he blinds mortals with 

 lightning; and while they are unable to see, he 



205 



