738 FALLS TO THE GEOUND. 



plants, and seems to be good fodder for fishes, fitted by hooked 

 or turned-up noses to guide it into their maws. 



" One species of fish has the lower jaw turned down into a 

 hook, which enables the animal to hold its mouth close to the 

 plant as it glides up or down, sucking in all the soft pulpy 

 food. The superabundance of gelatinous nutriment makes these 

 swarmers increase in bulk with extraordinary rapidity, and the 

 food supply of the people is plenteous in consequence. The 

 number of fish caught by weirs, baskets, and nets now, as the 

 waters decline, is prodigious. The fish feel their element be- 

 coming insufficient for comfort, and retire from one bouga to 

 another towards the lake ; the narrower parts are duly prepared 

 by weirs to take advantage of their necessities; the sun heat 

 seems to oppress them and force them to flee. With the south- 

 east aerial current comes heat and sultriness. A blanket is 

 scarcely needed till the early hours of the morning, and here, 

 after the turtle-doves and cocks give out their warning calls to 

 the watchful, the fish-eagle lifts up his remarkable voice. It is 

 pitched in a high falsetto key, very loud, and seems as if he 

 were calling to some one in the other world. Once heard, his 

 weird unearthly voice can never be forgotten — it sticks to one 

 through life." 



A few days more he seemed to sustain his interest in the 

 country, but he was sinking rapidly ; he became unable to do 

 more than make the shortest memoranda. On the 21st of April 

 he tried to ride on the remaining donkey, " but he had only gone 

 a short distance when he fell to the ground utterly exhausted 

 and faint. Susi immediately undid his belt and pistol, and 

 picked up his cap which had dropped off, while Chuma threw 

 down his gun and ran to stop the men on ahead. When he got 

 back the doctor said, ' Chuma, I have lost so much blood there 

 is no more strength left in my legs* you must carry me.' He 

 was then assisted gently to his shoulders, and, holding the man's 

 head to steady himself, was borne back to the village and placed 

 in the hut he had so recently left. It was necessary to let the 

 chief Muanazawamba know Avhat had happened, and for this 

 purpose Dr. Livingstone despatched a messenger. He was 

 directed to ask him to supply a guide for the next day, as he 

 trusted then to have recovered so far as to be able to march ; 



