Chap. XXIV. LEVEL PLAINS. 313 



canoes were taken away before our eyes, and we were supposed 

 to be quite helpless without them, with a river before us a 

 good hundred yards broad, and very deep. Pitsane stood on 

 the bank, gazing with apparent indifference on the stream, but 

 all the while making an accurate observation of the spot where 

 the canoes were hidden among the reeds. After it was dark 

 one of them was quietly abstracted from its hiding-place, and 

 we were soon snug in our bivouac on the southern bank of the 

 Kasai. I left some beads, as payment for some meal which 

 had been presented by the ferrymen ; and as the canoe was 

 left on the north side of the river, Pitsane and his companions 

 laughed uproariously at the idea of our enemies' perplexity as 

 to who had paddled us across. As we were about to depart 

 in the morning, Kawawa's people appeared on the opposite 

 heights, and could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw 

 us prepared to start away to the south. At last one of them 

 called out, "Ah! ye are bad." To which Pitsane and his 

 companions retorted, " Ah ! ye are good ; and we thank you 

 for the loan of your canoe." (60) 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



The Lotembwa. — Watersheds. — Position of boces. — Rain south 



AND NORTH- OF EQUATOR. — DlLOLO. — THE LeEBA. — SOCIAL CON- 

 DITION of tribes. — Reception at Libonta. 



After leaving the Kasai we entered upon the extensive level 

 plains which we had formerly found flooded. The water on 

 them was not yet dried up, but still remained in hollow spots. 

 Vultures were seen floating in the air, showing that carrion 

 was to be found ; and, indeed, we saw several of the large 

 game, but so exceedingly wild as to be unapproachable. 

 Numbers of caterpillars mounted the stalks of grass, and 

 dragonflies and butterflies made their appearance, though it 

 was now winter. The presence of the caprimulgus or goat- 

 sucker, swifts, and different kinds of swallows, with a fiery-red 

 bee-eater in flocks, showed that the lowest temperature here 

 does not destroy the insects on which they feed. Jet-black 



