Chap. IX. busungu. 239 



that the little creature has swallowed a great deal of sand, 

 and is getting rid of it as speedily as possible : a habit he 

 indulges in of darting into his hole at intervals, as if for 

 fresh supplies, tends to strengthen this idea; but the size 

 of the heaps formed in a few seconds shows that this cannot 

 be the case, and leads to the impression that, although not 

 readily seen, at the distance at which he chooses to keep 

 the observer, yet that possibly he raises the sand to his 

 mouth, where whatever animalcule it may contain is sifted 

 out of it, and the remainder rejected in the manner 

 described. At times the larger species of crabs perform 

 a sort of concert; and from each subterranean abode 

 strange sounds arise, as if, in imitation of the songsters 

 of the groves, for very joy they sang ! 



We found some natives pounding the woody stems of a 

 poisonous climbing-plant (Dirca palustris) called Busungu, 

 or poison, which grows abundantly in the swamps. When 

 a good quantity was bruised, it was tied up in bundles. 

 The stream above and below was obstructed with bushes, 

 and with a sort of rinsing motion the poison was diffused 

 through the water. Many fish were soon affected, swam 

 in shore, and died, others were only stupefied. The plant 

 has pink, pea-shaped blossoms, and smooth, pointed, 

 glossy leaves, and the brown bark is covered with 

 minute white points. The knowledge of it might prove 

 of use to a shipwrecked party by enabling them to catch 

 the fish. 



The poison is said to be deleterious to man if the water 

 is drunk ; but not when the fish is cooked. The Busungu 

 is repulsive to some insects, and is smeared round the 

 shoots of the palm-trees to prevent the ants from getting 

 into the palm wine while it is dropping from the tops of 

 the palm-trees into the little pots suspended to collect it. 



We were in the habit of walking from our beds into 

 the salt water at sunrise, for a bath, till a large crocodile 



