182 ZAMBEZIAN FLORA 



you pass beneath it, avalanches of seeds from its 

 bunchy heads which adhere to clothing, and, by 

 means of a sharp barbed point, work their way 

 through it until they scratch and irritate the skin. 

 Another still smaller variety possesses razor-sharp 

 blades, which, drawn across the skin as in the case 

 of swinging one's arm in the act of marching, 

 administer painful if not very deep cuts, and are 

 the occasion of much annoyance. 



I have, however, never been able yet to identify 

 the grass which has caused me the most suffering ; 

 but it is one of comparatively low growth, and is 

 found— or at least found me — in high, upland, 

 forest country. This abomination— the Mucuna 

 of the Gramince — detaches as you march through 

 it an invisible but highly irritating dust, which 

 penetrates between your boots and leggings, or 

 works its way through the joints of your putties, 

 and, aided thereto by the dampness of your per- 

 spiring limbs, sets up a strong and rapidly developing 

 inflamed rash. On one occasion, whilst I was 

 hunting elephants in Cheringoma, I awoke one 

 morning after an almost sleepless night from this 

 cause, to find my feet and ankles so swollen that 

 I appeared to be suffering from incipient elephan- 

 tiasis, and for two whole days was unable to take 

 the road. I have, however, only enumerated the 

 most spiteful (and therefore the most easUy re- 

 membered) of the Zambezian grasses. Others 

 there are, and their name is legion, from a graceful 

 flowering growth similar in appearance to the well- 

 known Pampas grass, down to a tiny, fairy-like 

 variety often seen in somewhat poor soil, whose 



