BIRDS.— SPONGES. 271 



A speckled kingfisher is seen nearly every hundred yards, 

 which builds in similar spots, and attracts the attention of herd- 

 boys, who dig out its nest for the sake of the young. This, and 

 a most lovely little blue and orange kingfisher, are seen every 

 where along the banks, dashing down like a shot into the water 

 for their prey. A third, seen more rarely, is as large as a pigeon, 

 and is of a slaty color. 



Another inhabitant of the banks is the sand-martin, which 

 also likes company in the work of raising a family. They 

 never leave this part of the country. One may see them 

 preening themselves in the very depth of winter, while the 

 swallows, of which we shall yet speak, take winter trips. I 

 saw sand-martins at the Orange River during a period of winter 

 frost; it is, therefore, probable that they do not migrate even 

 from thence. 



Around the reeds, which in some parts line the banks, we see 

 fresh-water sponges. They usually encircle the stalk, and are 

 hard and brittle, presenting numbers of small round grains near 

 their circumference. 



The river was running at the rate of five miles an hour, and 

 carried bunches of reed and decaying vegetable matter on its sur- 

 face ; yet the water was not discolored. It had, however, a slight- 

 ly yellowish-green tinge, somewhat deeper than its natural color. 

 This arose from the quantity of sand carried by the rising flood 

 from sand-banks, which are annually shifted from one spot to 

 another, and from the pieces falling in as the banks are worn : 

 for when the water is allowed to stand in a glass, a few sec- 

 onds suffice for its deposit at the bottom. This is considered 

 an unhealthy period. When waiting, on one occasion, for the 

 other canoes to come up, I felt no inclination to leave the one I 

 was in ; but my head boatman, Mashauana, told me never to re- 

 main on board while so much vegetable matter was floating down 

 the stream. 



11th December. At Libonta. We were detained for days to- 

 gether collecting contributions of fat and butter, according to the 

 orders of Sekeletu, as presents to the Balonda chiefs. Much fe- 

 ver prevailed, and ophthalmia was rife, as is generally the case 

 before the rains begin. Some of my own men required my as- 

 sistance, as well as the people of Libonta. A lion had done a 



