TROPICAL SCENERY. 103 



of emerald, on •which cattle and goats were browsing. The water in these 

 little lakes was almost entirely hidden under the profusion of immense lotus 

 leaves, which lay on its surface, and were buoyant enough to support the weight 

 of stilt legs (a rare bird), snipes, and other aquatic birds, running about in quest 

 of their food. These leaves, large and oblong, are slit at one end as far as 

 the stalk, and though as thin as a sheet of paper, receive their buoyancy from 

 the fact of their outer edges drying and curling up to the sun, so that they 

 float like large ducks in the water ; excepting when the wind sometimes lifts 

 one up, causing it to flap like the wings of a bird. Thousands of pretty lotus 

 flowers enliven the scene, while they emit an odour grateful and invigorating 

 to the senses. We passed over some beds of hard sandstone, worn full of 

 round cavities. At times I fancied we were about to bump up Against a 

 brown coral-like reef, which, however, yielded before us and proved to be a 

 peculiar aquatic plant. We started some lovely little king fishers, with 

 plumage of most ethereal hues, and I shot a brace of white storks. I got 

 pretty well tired of the boat, and occasionally took a walk on the banks, 

 leaving the boat to pursue its course. . . . By-and-bye we came to a 

 large makuchon tree shading a large circle on the north bank, and I knew 

 another hour would land us at the town. Just here there are many shallows, 

 so that in many parts a waggon can easily cross. There are scarcely any 

 reeds on the banks, and large plains exist which were covered with water 

 and reeds, even so lately as twenty or thirty years ago." 



This stream, the Botletlie, or Zouga, Livingstone supposed to be the outlet 

 of Lake Ngami, but Mr. Chapman and others, who have been repeatedly round the 

 lake, have found that it has no outlet, and that it is gradually shrinking in 

 dimensions. During the rainy season a portion of the waters of the Zouga 

 flows eastwards, while another portion flows westwards into the Lake ; 

 LiviDgstone must have seen it when the channel lake-wards was full, and the 

 surplus water of the river was flowing to the east. The change of chmate is 

 rapidly reducing the waters which flow into it, and in all probability the country 

 round will, within a few generations, assume the character of the Kalahari desert. 

 To the south there is a large shallow salt lake, and all over the country salt-pans, 

 or the beds of former salt lakes are found. The grass-eating animals frequent 

 these salt-pans just as their congeners in North America visit the salt licks. Mr. 

 Chapman has passed twice between Lake Ngami and Walvisch Bay on the 

 West Coast, and next to Dr. Livingstone, has explored the largest amount of 

 South African territory. His two volumes of " Travels in the Interior of 

 South Africa," are most interesting reading. His descriptions of the flora 

 and fauna of the vast regions he has traversed are most copious and valuable, 

 and we take the opportunity here of acknowledging our indebtedness to his 

 graphic and entertaining pages. 



Mr. Chapman had thoughts of settling for a time between Lake Ngami 



