102 Oh Mammals from N)/asaJand. 



Tlie natives have a curious idea, universally believed in this 

 country, that it eats rats and drives them out of houses; so 

 they are often jdaced in houses for that reason ! Their name 

 for it — 'Kadiamlamu' — means ' Tiie little one who eats his 

 brother-in-law.' Also taken in hollow dead palms in the 

 forest in the low country." 



59. Heliophobius argenteo-cinereus, Pet. 



(^. 249, 259, 265, 270, 272, 273, 275; ? . 252, 253, 256, 

 257, 261, Wd, 264, 271, 274, 276. Cholo. 



(J. 226; ?. 225. Ciiikonjt', near Ohiromo. 



"Apparently only exists where there are hills, at any 

 altitude, but not on tiie Lower Shir^ plains. Makes long 

 burrows anything up to 20 yards long a few inches below 

 surface, then deeper to about 2 to 3 feet, where the living 

 chamber is made. Very connnon in the Cholo highlands. 

 Rather sluggish in daylight, and apparently then quite blind, 

 as they snap at things or nothing in a blind reasonless way. 

 Natives handle them quite freely by })icking them up by the 

 hair on the nape of the neck or top of head, when they are 

 quite helpless. Eaten by all tribes, except those Mohammedan 

 ones who do not eat any of these things. Eats roots under- 

 ground. 



" Mang'anja name ' Nanf uko.' " 



60. Mam's temmincki, Smuts. 



cJ . 343. Masengere, near Chiromo. 



" Taken walking along path in forest in daylight. Wiien 

 disturbed it rolled up into a ball, but after a few minutes 

 unrolled and walked off again. This occurred any time it 

 was put down. After a few times it took no notice of people 

 around, but walked slowly about, only rolling up if touched. 

 The gait was slow and on hind legs, only touching ground 

 with the backs of the fore-claws occasionally, the tail steadying 

 it when it stopped for a moment. Appears to feed exclu- 

 sively on termites, and possibly some ants. The flesh is 

 considered a great delicacy, and in the olden days was a 

 cliiePs dish only. 



" Mang'anja name ' Nkaka.' " . 



" In the foregoing the natives spoken about are the large 

 Mang'anja tribe of the southern parts of Nyasaland, and 

 particularly the Cholo highland and Shire liiver lowland 

 districts. All other natives of different tribes are strangers 

 in these districts." 



