LEVEL PLAINS. 303 



meal which had been presented by the ferrymen ; and, the 

 eanoe having been left on their own side of the river, 

 Pitsane and his companions laughed uproariously at the 

 disgust our enemies would feel, and their perplexity as 

 to who had been our paddler across. They were quite 

 sure thatKawawa would imagine that we had been ferried 

 over by his own people and would be divining to find out 

 who had done the deed. When ready to depart in the 

 morning, Kawawa's people appeared on the opposite 

 heights, and could scarcely believe their eyes when they 

 saw us prepared to start away to the south. At last one 

 of them called out, "Ah! ye are bad;" to which Pitsane 

 and his companions retorted, "Ah! ye are good, and we 

 thank you for the loan of your canoe." We were careful 

 to explain the whole of the circumstances to Katema and 

 the other chiefs, and they all agreed that we were per- 

 fectly justifiable under the circumstances, and that Ma- 

 tiamvo would approve our conduct. When any thing that 

 might bear an unfavorable construction happens among 

 themselves, they send explanations to each other. The 

 mere fact of doing so prevents them from losing their 

 character, for there is public opinion even among them. 



CHAPTEK XXIV. 



DR. LIVINGSTONE RETURNS TO THE COUNTRY OF THE 

 MAKOLOLO. 



After leaving the Kasai, we entered upon the extensive 

 level plains which we had formerly found in a flooded con- 

 dition. The water on them was not yet dried up, as it 

 still remained in certain hollow spots. Vultures were seen 

 floating in the air, showing that carrion was to be found; 

 and, indeed, we saw several of the large game, but so 

 exceedingly wild as to be unapproachable. 



