Chap. XIV. MODE OF SPENDING THE DAY. 243 



CHAPTEE XIV. 



Increasing beauty of the country — Mode of spending the day — The people 

 and the falls of Gonye — A Makololo foray — A second prevented, aud 

 captives delivered up — Politeness and liberality of the people — The 

 rains — Present of oxen — The fugitive Barotse — Sekobinyaue's mis- 

 government — Bee-eaters and other birds — Fresh-water sponges — Cur- 

 rent — Death from a lion's bite at Libonta — Continued kindness — 

 Arrangements for spending the night during the journey — Cooking and 

 washing — Abundance of animal life — Different species of birds — Water- 

 fowl — Egyptian geese — Alligators — Narrow escape of one of my men 



— Superstitious feelings respecting the alligator — Large game — The 

 most vulnerable spot — Gun medicine — A Sunday — Birds of song — 

 Depravity; its treatment — Wild fruits — Green pigeons — Shoals of fish 



— Hippopotami. 



30th November, 1853. — At Gonye Falls. No rain has fallen 

 here, so it is excessively hot. The trees have put on their 

 gayest dress, and many flowers adorn the landscape, yet the 

 heat makes all the leaves droop at mid-day and look languid 

 for want of rain. If the country increases as much in beauty in 

 front, as it has done within the last four degrees of latitude, it 

 will be indeed a lovely land. 



We all felt great lassitude in travelling. The atmosphere is 

 oppressive both in cloud and sunshine. The evaporation from 

 the river must be excessively great, and I feel as if the fluids 

 of the system joined in the general motion of watery vapour 

 upwards, as enormous quantities of water must be drunk to 

 supply its place. 



When under weigh our usual procedure is this : — We get up 

 a little before five in the morning ; it is then beginning to dawn. 

 While I am dressing, coffee is made ; and, having filled my 

 pannikin, the remainder is handed to my companions, who 

 eagerly partake of the refreshing beverage. The servants are 

 busy loading the canoes, while the principal men are sipping the 

 coffee, and, that being soon over, we embark. The next two 

 hours are the most pleasant part of the day's sail. The men 

 paddle away most vigorously ; the Barotse, being a tribe of boat- 



B 2 



