508 LEVEL PLAINS.— BIKDS. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Level Plains. — Vultures and other Birds. — Diversity of Color in Flowers of the 

 same Species. — The Sundew. — Twenty-seventh Attack of Fever. — A River which 

 flows in opposite Directions. — Lake Dilolo the Watershed between the Atlantic 

 and Indian Oceans. — Position of Rocks. — Sir Roderick Murchison's Explanation. 

 — Characteristics of the Rainy Season in connection with the Floods of the Zam- 

 besi and the Nile. — Probable Reason of Difference in Amount of Rain South and 

 North of the Equator. — Arab Reports of Region east of Londa. — Probable Wa- 

 tershed of the Zambesi and the Nile. — Lake Dilolo. — Reach Katema's Town : 

 his renewed Hospitality ; desire to appear like a White Man ; ludicrous Depart- 

 ure. — Jackdaws. — Ford southern Branch of Lake Dilolo. — Small Fish. — Project 

 for a Makololo Village near the Confluence of the Leeba and the Leeambye. — 

 Hearty Welcome from Shinte. — Kolimbota's Wound. — Plant-seeds and Fruit- 

 trees brought from Angola. — Masiko and Limboa's Quarrel. — Nyamoana now a 

 Widow. — Purchase Canoes and descend the Leeba. — Herds of wild Animals on 

 its Banks. — Unsuccessful Buffalo-hunt. — Frogs. — Sinbad and the Tsetse. — Dis- 

 patch a Message to Manenko. — Arrival of her Husband Sambanza. — The Cere- 

 mony called Kasendi. — Unexpected Fee for performing a surgical Operation. — 

 Social Condition of the Tribes. — Desertion of Mboenga. — Stratagem of Mam- 

 bowe Hunters. — Water-turtles. — Charged by a Buffalo. — Reception from the Peo- 

 ple of Libonta. — Explain the Causes of our long Delay. — Pitsane's Speech. — 

 Thanksgiving Services. — Appearance of my " Braves." — Wonderful Kindness of 

 the People. 



After leaving the Kasai, we entered upon the extensive level 

 plains which we had formerly found in a flooded condition. The 

 water on them was not yet dried up, as it still remained in cer- 

 tain hollow spots. Vultures were seen floating in the air, show- 

 ing that carrion was to be found ; and, indeed, we saw several of 

 the large game, but so exceedingly wild as to be unapproachable. 

 Numbers of caterpillars mounted the stalks of grass, and many 

 dragonflies and butterflies appeared, though this was winter. The 

 caprimulgus or goat-sucker, swifts, and different kinds of swal- 

 lows, with a fiery-red bee-eater in flocks, showed that the lowest 

 temperature here does not destroy the insects on which they feed. 

 Jet-black larks, with yellow shoulders, enliven the mornings with 

 their songs, but they do not continue so long on the wing as ours, 

 nor soar so high. We saw many of the pretty white ardea, and 



