A FIST FIGHT. 



203 



by Dr. Livingstone's camp continued to belabor a good-looking 

 young man for hours with her tongue. Irritated at last, he 

 uttered some words of impatience, when another man sprang 

 at him, exclaiming, " How dare you curse my ' Mama ? ' " They 

 caught each other, and a sort of pushing, dragging, wrestling 

 match ensued. The old woman who had been the cause of the 

 affray wished us to interfere, and the combatants themselves 

 hoped as much ; but we, preferring to remain neutral, allowed 

 them to fight it out. It ended by one falling under the other, 

 both, from their scuffling, being in a state of nudity. They 

 picked up their clothing and ran off in different directions, each 

 threatening to bring his gun and settle the dispute in mortal 

 combat. Only one, however, returned, and the old woman con- 

 tinued her scolding till my men, fairly tired of her tongue, or- 

 dered her to be gone. This trifling incident was one of interest 

 to me, for, during the whole period of my residence in the Bec- 

 huana country, I never saw unarmed men strike each other. 

 Their disputes are usually conducted with great volubility and 

 noisy swearing, but they generally terminate by both parties 

 bursting into a laugh. 



Among the many delicacies with which this wonderful land 

 tempts the epicure is a singular little " white ant," which many 

 of the natives consider good enough for anybody. They are 

 unseen, generally, and only when decided to colonize do they 

 rush out of holes, in streams, and enter on a tour of inspec- 

 tion; when they have discovered a desirable location, they 

 alight and with singular facility " bend up their tails, unhook 

 their wings " (which may be removed from the body without 

 any inconvenience if turned forward), and begin with greater 

 diligence the erection of their homes. When these colonies 

 are ready to start for a new district, they are nothing daunted 

 even by fire, but pass through it with a heroism worthy of 

 more elevated beings. They are caught by the natives (who 

 are quite skilful in brushing them into vessels) and roasted, in 

 which state they are considered better than the choicest things 

 the " white man " can produce. 



South of the Kasai they traversed extensive plains covered 

 with beautiful flowers and birds. The flowers were of tiniest 

 dimensions and most exquisite delicacy, and had the appearance 



