244 FISH — HIPPOPOTAMI. 



thought that a repetition of the note would be a good 

 omen for our success in hunting. Many more interesting 

 birds were met ; but I could make no collection, as I was 

 proceeding on the plan of having as little luggage as 

 possible, so as not to excite the cupidity of those through 

 whose country we intended to pass. 



Vast shoals of fish come down the I,eeambye with the 

 rising waters, as we observed they also do in the Zouga. 

 They are probably induced to make this migration, by the 

 increased rapidity of the current dislodging them from 

 their old pasture-grounds higher up the river. Insects 

 constitute but a small portion of the food of many fish. 

 Fine vegetable matter, like slender mosses, growing on 

 the bottom, is devoured greedily ; and, as the fishes are 

 dislodged from the main stream by the force of the current, 

 and find abundant pasture on the flooded plains, the whole 

 community becomes disturbed and wanders. 



The mosala (CI arias Capensis and Glanis siluris), the 

 mullet (Mugil Africanus), and other fishes, spread over 

 the Barotse valley in such numbers that, when the waters 

 retire, all the people are employed in cutting them up and 

 drying them in the sun. The supply exceeds the demand, 

 and the land in numerous places is said to emit a most 

 offensive smell. Wherever you see the Zambesi in the 

 centre of the country, it is remarkable for the abundance 

 of animal life in and upon its waters, and on the adjacent 

 banks. 



We passed great numbers of hippopotami. They are 

 very numerous in the parts of the river where they are 

 never hunted. The males appear of a dark colour, the 

 females of yellowish brown. There is not such a complete 

 -separation of the sexes among them as among elephants. 

 They spend most of their time in the water, lolling about 

 in a listless, dreamy manner. When they come out of 

 the river by night, they crop off the soft succulent 

 grasses very neatly. When they blow, they puff up the 

 water about three feet high. 



