452 A BUFFALO HUNT. 



Coanza at Massangano, I thought the Leeba at least a 

 third larger, and upwards of two hundred yards wide. 

 We saw evidence of its rise during its last flood having 

 "been upwards of forty feet in perpendicular height ; but 

 this is probably more than usual, as the amount of rain 

 was above the average. My companions purchased also 

 a number of canoes from the Balonda. These are very 

 small, and can carry only two persons. They are made 

 quite thin and light, and as sharp as racing-skiffs, because 

 they are used in hunting animals in the water. The price 

 paid was a string of beads equal to the length of the 

 canoe. We advised them to bring canoes for sale to the 

 3Iakololo, as they would gladly give them cows in exchange. 



In descending the L,eeba we saw many herds of wild 

 animals, especially the tahetsi (Aigoceros equina), one 

 magnificent antelope, the putokuane (Antilope nigey), and 

 two fine lions. The Balobale, however, are getting well 

 supplied with guns, and will soon thin out the large game. 

 At one of the villages we were entreated to attack some 

 buffaloes, which grazed in the gardens every night, and 

 destroyed the manioc. As we had had no success in 

 shooting at the game we had seen, and we all longed 

 to have a meal of meat, we followed the footprints of a 

 number of old bulls. They showed a great amount of 

 cunning, by selecting the densest parts of very closely- 

 planted forests, to stand or recline in during the day. 

 We came within six yards of them several times before 

 we knew that they were so near. We only heard them 

 rush away among the crashing branches, catching only a 

 glimpse of them. It was somewhat exciting to feel, as 

 w T e trod on the dry leaves with stealthy steps, that, for 

 anything we knew, we might next moment be charged by 

 one of the most dangerous beasts of the forest. We 

 threaded out their doublings for hours, drawn on by 

 a keen craving for animal food, as we had been entirely 

 without salt for upwards of two months, but never 

 could get a shot. 



In passing along the side of water everywhere, except 

 in Londa, green frogs spring out at your feet, and light in 

 the water, as if taking a " header ; " and on the Leeambye 

 and Chobe we have great numbers of small green frogs 

 (Rana fasciata, Boie), which light on blades of grass with 

 remarkable precision ; but on coming along the Leeba, I 

 was struck by the sight of a light green toad about an 



