188 STINGLESS BEE. CHAP. VII. 



that the price was already settled. It was exceedingly 

 amusing to witness the exact imitation they gave of the 

 swagger of a certain white with whom they had been 

 dealing, and who had, as they had perceived, evidently 

 wished to assume an air of indifference. Holding up the 

 head and scratching the beard it was hinted might in- 

 dicate not indifference, but vermin. It is well that we 

 do not always know what they say about us. The remarks 

 are often not quite complimentary, and resemble closely 

 what certain white travellers say about the blacks. 



We made our camp in the afternoon abreast of the 

 large island called Mparira, opposite the mouth of the 

 Chobe. Francolins, quails, and guinea-fowls, as well as 

 larger game, were abundant. The Makololo headman, 

 Mokompa, brought us a liberal present ; and in the usual 

 way, which is considered politeness, regretted he had no 

 milk, as his cows were all dry. We got some honey here 

 from the very small stingless bee, called, by the Batoka, 

 moandi, and by others, the kokomatsane. This honey 

 is slightly acid, and has an aromatic flavour. The bees 

 are easily known from their habit of buzzing about the 

 eyes, and tickling the skin by sucking it as common flies 

 do. The hive has a tube of wax like a quill, for its 

 entrance, and is usually in the hollows of trees. 



Mokompa feared that the tribe was breaking up, and 

 lamented the condition into which they had fallen in 

 consequence of Sekeletu's leprosy ; he did not know what 

 was to become of them. He sent two canoes to take us 

 up to Sesheke ; his best canoe had taken ivory up to the 

 chief, to purchase goods of some native traders from 

 Benguela. Above the Falls the paddlers always stand 

 in the canoes, using long paddles, ten feet in length, and 

 changing from side to side without losing the stroke. 



Mochokotsa, a messenger from Sekeletu, met us on the 

 17th, with another request for the Doctor to take ivory 



