Chap. IV. LEAKY STATE OF THE STEAMER. 



95 



hours, and afterwards furnished a feast for the natives. The 

 poison on the spear-head does not affect the meat, except 

 the part around the wound, and that is thrown away. In 

 some places the descending beam is weighted with heavy 

 stones, but here the hard heavy wood is sufficient. 



View of Steamer, Traps, and dead Hippopotamus. 



About dusk we were hailed from the bank by an authorita- 

 tive voice. " Where are you going to ? Where are you going 

 to ? What is all this journeying about ? " " You may sleep 

 there, so do not trouble yourself," was the answer returned 

 by the Makololo. 



" She is leaking worse than ever forward, sir, and there is 

 a foot of water in the hold," was our first salutation on the 

 morning of the 20th. But we have become accustomed 

 to these things now, and are not surprised to hear of a new 

 " cataclysm " at any time. The cabin-floor is always wet, and 

 one is obliged to mop up the water many times a day, giving 



