2l6 HIPPOPOTAMI. 



the canoe in terror. To avoid this, it is generally recom- 

 mended to travel by day near the bank, and by night in 

 the middle of the stream. As a rule, these animals flee 

 the approach of man. The " solitaires," however, fre- 

 quent certain localities well known to the inhabitants 

 on the banks, and, like the rogue elephants, are extremely 

 dangerous. We came, at this time, to a canoe, which 

 had been smashed to pieces by a blow from the hind foot 

 of one of them. I was informed by my men, that in 

 the event of a similar assault being made upon ours, the 

 proper way was to dive to the bottom of the river, and 

 nold on there for a few seconds, because the hippo- 

 potamus, after breaking a canoe, always looks for the 

 people on the surface, and, if he sees none, he soon moves 

 off. I have seen some frightful gashes made on the legs 

 of the people who have had the misfortune to be attacked, 

 and were unable to dive. This animal uses his teeth 

 as an offensive weapon, though he is quite a herbivorous 

 feeder. One of these " bachelors," living near the con- 

 fluence, actually came out of his lair, and, putting his head 

 down, ran after some of our men who were passing with 

 very considerable speed. 



The part of the river called Zabesa, or Zabenza, is spread 

 out like a little lake, surrounded on all sides by dense 

 masses of tall reeds. The river below that is always 

 one hundred or one hundred and twenty yards broad, 

 deep, and never dries up so much as to become fordable. 

 At certain parts, where the partial absence of reeds affords 

 a view of the opposite banks, the Makololo have placed 

 villages of observation against their enemies the Matabele. 

 We visited all these in succession, and found here, as 

 everywhere in the Makololo country, orders had preceded 

 us, " that Nake (iiake means doctor) must not be allowed 

 to become hungry." 



The banks of the Chobe, like those of the Zouga, are 

 of soft calcareous tufa, and the river has cut out for itself 

 a deep, perpendicular-sided bed. Where the banks are 

 high, as at the spot where the waggons stood in 185 1, 

 they are covered with magnificent trees, the habitat of 

 tsetse, and the retreat of various antelopes, wild hogs, 

 zebras, buffaloes, and elephants. 



Among the trees may be observed some species of 

 the Ficus indica, light-green coloured acacias, the splendid 

 motsintsela, and evergreen cypress-shaped motsouri. 



