THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 303 



Along the reedy and marshy banks of the Zouga are also 

 found several species of vipers, and that most dangerous serpent, 

 the puff adder, which, when angered, distends the skin about its 

 reck to wonderful proportions, and is so vicious that it will 

 readily attack anything, whether man or beast. There is a snake 

 peculiar to this region which the natives call "Noga-putsane," 

 or serpent of a kid, so named because at night it utters a cry 

 exactly like the bleating of that little animal. Cobras are quite 

 numerous and greatly feared by the people, yet it is seldom that 

 any one is bitten by them, as they usually give ample warning 

 by rearing up and swaying their heads back and forth several 

 times before striking. The large python, measuring from fifteen 

 to twenty feet in length, is also found near the Zouga. Their 

 bite is harmless, but they often kill and devour animals of 

 medium size, which they crush and swallow like the boa con- 

 strictor ; generally, however, their food is small animals, such as 

 field mice, rats, etc. The python is hunted by the natives for 

 its flesh, which they greatly esteem, indeed preferring it to the 

 flesh of nearly all animals. 



TEACHING THE NATIVES. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the journey was a pleasant one, Living- 

 stone was glad when he arrived at Makololo, for much 

 traveling becomes tedious however great the attractions may 

 be on the route. He found a hearty welcome among the 

 people, and everything propitious for the establishment of a 

 successful missionary school. He invited the chiefs to come 

 first, but they held books in mysterious awe, fearing there 

 was some lurking danger in a thing which could relate 

 incidents that had transpired in remote localities. At length 

 Mat i be, father-in-law of the principal chief, Sekeletu, offered 

 himself as a student, but he affected the disposition of a 

 doctor who must first take his own medicine in order to 

 show his patients that it contains no poisonous ingredient. 

 Gradually the school increased, and so soon as one had mas- 

 tered the rudiments he was sent out to become a teacher of 

 others. 



