344 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOUKNALS. [Chap. XIII. 



Natal colonists will probably recognise the Mamba in this 

 snake ; it is much to be desired that specimens should be 

 procured for purposes of comparison. In Southern Africa so 

 great is the dread it inspires that the Kaffirs will break up 

 a Kraal and forsake the place if a Mamba takes up his 

 quarters in the vicinity, and, from what we have seen above, 

 with no undue caution. 



Susi, to whom this snake is known in the Shupanga tongue 

 as "Bubu," describes it as about twelve feet long, dark in 

 colour, of a dirty blue under the belly, with red markings 

 like the wattles of a cock on the head. The Arabs go so far 

 as to say that it is known to oppose the passage of a caravan 

 at times. Twisting its tail round a branch, it will strike one 

 man after another in the head with fatal certainty. Their 

 remedy is to fill a pot with boiling water, which is put on 

 the head and carried under the tree ! The snake dashes his 

 head into this and is killed — the story is given for what it is 

 worth. 



It would seem that at XJjiji the natives, as in other places, 

 cannot bear to have snakes killed. The " Chatu," a species of 

 python, is common, and, from being highly favoured, becomes 

 so tame as to enter houses at night. A little meal is placed 

 on the stool, which the uncanny visitor laps up, and then 

 takes its departure — the men significantly say they never 

 saw it with their own eyes. Another species utters a cry, 

 much like the crowing of a young cock ; this is well authen- 

 ticated. Yet another black variety has a spine like a black- 

 thorn at the end of the tail, and its bite is extremely deadly. 

 At the same time it must be added that, considering the 

 enormous number of reptiles in Africa, it rarely occurs that 

 anyone is bitten, and a few months' residence suffices to dispel 

 the dread which most travellers feel at the outset. 



February, 1874. — No further incident occurred worthy of 

 special notice. At last the coast town of Bagamoio came in 

 sight, and before many hours were over, one of Her Majesty's 



