Chap. V. 



A HEADMAN S VISIT. 



129 



open gateways in it of from sixty to eighty yards in 

 breadth, and the channel is very deep. 



On a shallow sandbank, under the dyke, lay a herd of 

 hippopotami in fancied security. The young ones were 

 playing with each other like young puppies, climbing on 

 the backs of their dams, trying to take, hold of one 



Group of Hippopotami. 



another by the jaws, and tumbling over into the water. 

 Mbia, one of the Makololo, waded across to within a 

 dozen yards of the drowsy beasts, and shot the father of 

 the herd; who, being very fat, soon floated, and was 

 secured at the village below. The headman of the 

 village visited us while we were at breakfast. He wore 

 a black " ife " wig and a printed shirt. After a short 

 silence he said to Masakasa, " You are with the white 

 people, so why do you not tell them to give me a cloth? " 



K 



