266 MUSHROOMS. 



of the tree, and proves sufficient protection against thieves. 

 The natives seldom rob each other, for all believe that 

 certain medicines can inflict disease and death ; and 

 though they consider that these are only known to a few, 

 they act on the principle that it is best to let them all alone. 

 The gloom of these forests strengthens the superstitious 

 feelings of the people. In other quarters, where they are 

 not subjected to this influence, I have heard the chiefs 

 issue proclamations to the effect, that real witchcraft 

 medicines had been placed at certain gardens from which 

 produce had been stolen ; the thieves having risked the 

 power of the ordinary charms previously placed there. 



This being the rainy season, great quantities of mush- 

 rooms were met with, and were eagerly devoured by my 

 companions ; the edible variety is always found growing 

 out of ant-hills, and attains the diameter of the crown of 

 a hat ; they are quite white, and very good, even when 

 eaten raw ; they occupy an extensive region of the 

 interior ; some, not edible, are of a brilliant red, and 

 others are of the same light blue as the paper used by 

 apothecaries to put up their medicines. 



There was considerable pleasure, in spite of rain and 

 fever, in this new scenery. The deep gloom contrasted 

 strongly with the shadeless glare of the Kalahari, which 

 had left an indelible impression on my memory. Though 

 drenched day by day at this time, and for months after- 

 wards, it was long before I could believe that we were 

 getting too much of a good thing. Nor could I look at 

 water being thrown away, without a slight, quick impres- 

 sion flitting across the mind that we were guilty of wasting 

 it. Every now and then we emerged from the deep gloom 

 into a pretty little valley, having a damp portion in the 

 middle ; which, though now filled with water, at other 

 times contains moisture enough for wells only. These 

 wells have shades put over them in the form of little huts. 



We crossed, in canoes, a little never-failing stream, 

 which passes by the name Lefuje, or " the rapid." It 

 comes from a goodly high mountain, called Monakadzi 

 (the woman), which gladdened our eyes as it rose to our 

 sight about twenty or thirty miles to the east of our 

 course. It is of an oblong shape, and seemed at least 

 eight hundred feet above the plains. The Lefuje probably 

 derives its name from the rapid descent of the short 

 course it has to flow from Monakadzi to the Leeba. 



