290 CROSSING THE I«OKAI,UEjE. 



he would certainly impose a fine. It rained the whole 

 day, so we were reconciled to the delay ; but on Sunday, 

 the 5 th, he let us know that we were still two days distant 

 from Katema. We unfortunately could not manage 

 without him, for the country was so deluged, we should 

 have been brought to a halt before we went many miles, 

 by some deep valley, every one of which was full of 

 water. Intemese continued to plait his basket with all 

 his might, and would not come to our religious service. 

 He seemed to be afraid of our incantations ; but was 

 always merry and jocular. 



6th. — Soon after starting we crossed a branch of the 

 Lokalueje by means of a canoe, and in the afternoon 

 passed over the main stream by a like conveyance. The 

 former, as is the case with all branches of rivers in this 

 country, is called nuana Kalueje (child of the Kalueje). 

 Hippopotami exist in the Lokalueje, so it may be inferred 

 to be perennial, as the inhabitants asserted. We cannot 

 judge of the size of the stream from what we now saw. 

 It had about forty yards of deep fast-flowing water, but 

 probably not more than half that amount in the dry season. 

 Besides these, we crossed numerous feeders in our N.N.W. 

 course, and, there being no canoes, got frequently wet in 

 the course of the day. The oxen in some places had 

 their heads only above water, and the stream flowing 

 over their backs wetted our blankets, which we used as 

 saddles. The arm-pit was the only safe spot for carrying 

 the watch, for there it was preserved from rains above 

 and waters below. The men on foot crossed these gullies 

 holding up their burdens at arms' length. 



The Lokalueje winds from north-east to south-west into 

 the Leeba. The country adjacent to its banks is extremely 

 fine and fertile, with here and there patches of forest or 

 clumps of magnificent trees. The villagers through whose 

 gardens we passed, continue to sow and reap all the year 

 round. The grains, as maize, lotsa (Pennisetum typhoi- 

 deum), lokesh or millet, are to be seen at all stages of 

 their growth — some just ripe, while at this time the 

 Makololo crops are not half grown. My companions, who 

 have a good idea of the different qualities of soils, ex-pressed 

 the greatest admiration of the agricultural capabilities of 

 the whole of Londa, and here they were loud in their 

 praises of the pasturage. They have an accurate idea of 

 the varieties of grasses best adapted for different kinds 



