LIZABDS 283 



have been struck by a " Songo " was on one 

 occasion admitted to the ^Dssion, where he died 

 shortly afterwards in great agony. 



I myself have on several occasions found my 

 natives refuse to proceed in a given direction 

 across country for the same reason, namely, 

 that it was the haunt of the " Songo." More 

 than once I have left them behind, and alone and 

 unaccompanied have endeavoured to solve the 

 mystery- surrounding this snake, but, unhappily, 

 without success. For all that, however, I am 

 convinced that there is foundation for the per- 

 sistent reports of this creature" s existence, and I 

 confess that I would give much to have an 

 opportunity of clearing the matter up. 



Zambezia contains numerous lizards, the 

 largest of which, commonly called the iguana, 

 reaches at times to a length of 4 or 5 feet. This 

 creature is more or less amphibious, and is 

 never found ver^- far from water. There are, 

 in addition, several very beautifully colovu-ed 

 lizards, foremost among which the agama, 

 briUiant in blue and yellow, and the grey and 

 ohve green rock Uzards, bask all day in the hot 

 sunshine. Then there are the large-headed 

 arboreal geckos, scarcely distinguishable from 

 the bark of the trees up which they dart, and 

 many others. 



Land and water tortoises are fairly numerous, 

 and greatly liked by the natives as articles of 

 food. Great care should be exercised in handling 

 the latter, as they are vicious creatiires, and can 

 administer a terrible bite. 



