Chap. IV. START FOR THE COUNTRY OF SEBlTUANfc. 51 



capensis by Dr. Smith, resembles it closely, and is widely 

 diffused throughout the interior. They often leave the riven 

 to feed in pools, and, as these dry up, largo numbers of them 

 are entrapped by the people. A water-snake, spotted yellow 

 and dark brown, is frequently seen swimming with its head 

 above the water. It is quite harmless, and is relished as 

 food by the Ba} 7 eiye. They live much on fish, which are an 

 abomination to the Bechuanas in the south. They are caught 

 in large numbers by nets made of the fine strong fibres of 

 the hibiscus, which grows abundantly in all moist places. The 

 mode of knotting the nets is identical with our own. The float- 

 ropes of the Bayeiye are made of the ife, or, as it is now 

 called, the Sanseviera Angolensis, a flag-looking plant, with a 

 strong fibre, that abounds from Kolobeng to Angola. The 

 floats themselves are pieces of a water-plant with valves at 

 each joint, which retain the air in cells about an inch long. 

 The Bayeiye also spear the fish with javelins. They show 

 great dexterity in harpooning the hippopotamus. The barbed 

 blade of the spear is attached to a rope made of the young 

 leaves of the palmyra, and the animal cannot rid himself of 

 the canoe, except by smashing it, which he not unfrequently 

 does by his teeth or by a stroke of his hind foot. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Second and third journeys from Kolobeng. — The Chobe. — Ra- 

 vages of Tsetse. — The Makololo : career of their chief 

 Sebituane. — Discovery of the Zambesi. — Slave-trade. — Ee- 

 turn to the cape. 



I returned to Kolobeng and remained there till April, 1850. 

 I then left, in company with Mrs. Livingstone, our threo 

 children, and the chief Sechele, with the intention of crossing 

 the Zouga at its lower end, and proceeding up the northern 

 bank till we gained the Tamunak'le. My purpose was next 

 to ascend that river and visit Sebituane in the north. Sekoini 

 had given orders to fill up the wells which we had dug with 

 so much labour at Serotli, and induced us to take the 



