266 STINGLESS BEE. Chap. XIII. 



had been dealing, and who had, as they had perceived, 

 evidently wished to assume an air of indifference. Holding 

 up the head and scratching the beard it was hinted might 

 indicate not indifference, but vermin. It is well that we do 

 not always know what they say about us. The remarks are 

 often not quite complimentary, and resemble closely what 

 certain white travellers say about the blacks. 



We made our camp in the afternoon abreast of the large 

 island called Mparira, opposite the mouth of the Chobe. 

 Francolins, quails, and guinea-fowls, as well as larger game, 

 were abundant. The Makololo headman, Mokompa, brought 

 us a liberal present ; and, in the usual way, which is con- 

 sidered politeness, regretted he had no milk, as his cows 

 were all dry. We got some honey here from the very small 

 stingless bee, called, by the Batoka, moandi, and by others, 

 the kokomatsane. This honey is slightly acid, and has an 

 aromatic flavour. The bees are easily known from their habit 

 of buzzing about the eyes, and tickling the skin by sucking 

 it as common flies do. The hive has a tube of wax like a 

 quill, for its entrance, and is usually in the hollows of trees. 



Mokompa feared that the tribe was breaking up, and 

 lamented the condition into which they had fallen in con- 

 sequence of Sekeletu's leprosy; he did not know what 

 was to become of them. He sent two canoes to take us up 

 to Sesheke ; his best canoe had taken ivory up to the Chief, 

 to purchase goods of some native traders from Benguela. 

 Above the Falls the paddlers always stand in the canoes, 

 using long paddles, ten feet in length, and changing from 

 side to side without losing the stroke. 



Mochokotsa, a messenger from Sekeletu, met us on the 17th, 

 with another request for the Doctor to take ivory and purchase 

 a horse. He again declined to interfere. None were to come 

 up to Sekeletu but the Doctor ; and all the men who had had 



