METHODS OF CATCHING FISH. 20 1 



of stock, and lament because here there are no cows to 

 feed off the rich green crop, which at this time imparts 

 special beauty to the landscape. 



Great numbers of the omnivorous feeding fish, Giants 

 siluris, or mosala, spread themselves over the flooded 

 plains, and, as the waters retire, try to find their way 

 back again to the rivers. The Balonda make earthen 

 dykes and hedges across the outlets of the retreating 

 waters, leaving only small spaces through which the chief 

 part of the water flows. In these open spaces they plant 

 creels, similar in shape to our own, into which the fish can 

 enter, but cannot return. They secure large quantities 

 of fish in this way, which, when smoke-dried, make a good 

 relish for their otherwise insipid food. They use also a 

 weir of mats made of reeds sewed together, with but half 

 an inch between each. Open spaces are left for the 

 insertion of the creels as before. 



In still water, a fish-trap is employed of the same shape 

 and plan as the common round wire mouse-trap, which 

 has an opening surrounded with wires pointing inwards. 

 This is made of reeds and supple wands, and food is placed 

 inside to attract the fish. 



Besides these means of catching fish, they use a hook 

 of iron without a barb ; the point is bent inwards instead, 

 so as not to allow the fish to escape. Nets are not so 

 common as in the Zouga and Leeambye, but they kill 

 large quantities of fishes by means of the bruised leaves 

 of a shrub, which may be seen planted beside every village 

 in the country. 



On the 7th we came to the village of Soana Molopo, a 

 half-brother of Katerna, a few miles beyond the Lokalueje. 

 When we went to visit him, we found him sitting, with 

 about one hundred men. He called on Intemese to give 

 some account of us, though no doubt it had been done in 

 private before. He then pronounced the following 

 sentences : — " The journey of the white man is very 

 proper, but Shinte has disturbed us by showing the path 

 to the Makololo who accompany him. He ought to have 

 taken them through the country without showing them 

 the towns. We are afraid of the Makololo." He then 

 gave us a handsome present of food, and seemed perplexed 

 by my sitting down familiarly, and giving him a few of 

 our ideas. When we left, Intemese continued busily im- 

 parting an account of all we had given to Shinte and 



