562 The spotted hyaena. 



tities of corn, maize, millet, ground-nuts, pumpkins, and 

 cucumbers. We observed that, when plants failed in one 

 spot, they were in the habit of transplanting them into 

 another, and they had also grown large numbers of young 

 plants on the islands, where they are favoured by moisture 

 from the river, and were now removing them to the main- 

 land. The fact of their being obliged to do this shows 

 that there is less rain here than in Londa, for there we 

 observed the grain in all stages of its growth at the same 

 time. 



The people here build their huts in gardens on high 

 stages. This is necessary on account of danger from the 

 spotted hygena, which is said to be very fierce, and also as 

 a protection against lions and elephants. The hygena is 

 a very cowardly animal, but frequently approaches persons 

 lying asleep, and makes an ugly gash on the face. Mozinkwa 

 had lost his upper lip in this way, and I have heard of 

 men being killed by them ; children too are sometimes 

 carried off ; for though he is so cowardly that the human 

 voice will make him run away at once, yet, when his teeth 

 are in the flesh, he holds on, and shows amazing power of 

 jaw. Iveg-bones of oxen, from which the natives have 

 extracted the marrow and everything eatable, are by this 

 animal crunched up with the greatest ease, which he 

 apparently effects by turning them round in his teeth till 

 they are in a suitable position for being split. 



We had now come among people who had plenty, and 

 were really very liberal. My men never returned from a 

 village without some corn or maize in their hands. The 

 real politeness with which food is given by nearly all the 

 interior tribes, who have not had much intercourse with 

 Buropeans, makes it a pleasure to accept. Again and 

 again I have heard an apology made for the smallness of 

 the present, or regret expressed that they had not received 

 notice of my approach in time to grind more, and generally 

 they readily accepted our excuse at having nothing to 

 give in return, by saying that they were quite aware, that 

 there are no white men's goods in the interior. When I 

 had it in my power, I always gave something really useful. 

 To Katema, Shinte, and others I gave presents which 

 cost me about £2 each, and I could return to them at any 

 time without having a character for stinginess. How 

 some men can offer three buttons, or some other equally 

 contemptible gift, while they have abundance in their 



