90 A crocodile's victim. Chap. IV. 



admitted that there was a lake a few miles off. Sub- 

 sequent inquiries make it probable that the story of the 

 " perpendicular rocks" may have had reference to a fissure, 

 known to both natives and Arabs, in the north-eastern 

 portion of the lake. The walls rise so high that the path 

 along the bottom is said to be underground. It is probably 

 a crack similar to that which made the Victoria Falls, and 

 formed the Shire Valley. 



The chief brought a small present of meal in the 

 evening, and sat with us for a few minutes. On leaving 

 us he said that he wished we might sleep well. Scarce 

 had he gone, when a wild sad cry arose from the river, 

 followed by the shrieking of women. A crocodile had 

 carried off his principal wife, as she was bathing. The 

 Makololo snatched up their arms, and rushed to the bank, 

 but it was too late, she was gone. The wailing of the 

 women continued all night, and next morning we met 

 others coming to the village to join in the general mourn- 

 ing. Their grief was evidently heartfelt, as we saw the 

 tears coursing down their cheeks. In reporting this mis- 

 fortune to his neighbours, Muana-Moesi said, " that white 

 men came to his village ; washed themselves at the place 

 where his wife drew water and bathed ; rubbed themselves 

 with a white medicine (soap) ; and his wife, having gone 

 to bathe afterwards, was taken by a crocodile ; he did not 

 know whether in consequence of the medicine used or 

 not." This we could not find fault with. On our return 

 we were viewed with awe, and all the men fled at our 

 approach ; the women remained ; and this elicited the 

 remark from our men, " The women have the advantage of 

 men, in not needing to dread the spear." The practice of 

 bathing, which our first contact with Chinsunse's people 

 led us to believe was unknown to the natives, we after- 

 wards found to be common in other parts of the Manganja 

 country. 



