118 THE CHOBE. 



The river on which the slender canoes were launched was a 

 poor exchange for the lair of the lion and the tramp of the 

 elephant. It entertained an enemy as dreadful as either. The 

 hippopotamus is not generally a bold assailant of man, but 

 where there are as many as infest this stream it is hardly possi- 

 ble to avoid contact with him. The tiny boats may at any 

 moment glide into the midst of a sleeping herd, and be suddenly 

 dashed to pieces. Besides there are always certain individuals 

 of the species lurking about in lonely Ishmaelitish anger which 

 spares no living thing. The hippopotamus, though confined to 

 the African continent, is found in all parts of it, and is generally 

 of tremendous size, though its short legs, hardly lifting its belly 

 from the ground, cuts off its height ; its body is large as that of 

 the elephant. Its huge mouth opens like a cave, and is fur- 

 nished with massive, frightful teeth, formidable enemies to the 

 growing grain and luckless boatman. It is strictly gregarious 

 in its habits, and dozing lazily through the day quits its river 

 haunts at night in search of food. Sometimes it exhibits a 

 peculiarly happy mood, sporting like a mammoth kitten in the 

 yielding element. At other times the evil spirit rises and it 

 bites and kicks sullenly as a demon. Once an angry member 

 of the race pursued the attendants of Livingstone far away 

 from the river, and often he witnessed the cruel gashes of its 

 tusks in the legs of natives who had barely escaped a horrid 

 death. Its thick hide is a formidable shield, even against the 

 sharp, heavy lances of the country. But its flesh is healthful 

 and very highly esteemed for food. 



The Chobe, from Linyanti to its confluence with the Leeam- 

 bye, is exceedingly tortuous, and though deep and wide offers 

 but small temptation to navigation. Many villages are passed 

 on its banks. All of them were ready with the supplies which 

 had been ordered by Sekeletu to be in waiting for Dr. Living- 

 stone. The banks are high and crowned with many lofty 

 trees, whose branches tempt the traveller with their pendant 

 offerings of various fruits. 



At the confluence of the rivers the party spent a night on the 

 island Mparia, and, turning up the Leeambye, landed at Sesheke 

 on the 19th of November. 



