82 Seven Years in Central Africa. [Aug. 
direction of water. After a few hours' sleep we got up to con- 
tinue our journey, as the day was breaking. To my surprise I 
met Sikinini coming back with a calabash of water in one hand, 
and a cup in the other. The Httle fellow had got to the water 
during the night, and had brought back a supply for his master. 
When within about twenty miles of Panda I met a hunter, 
whose horse I hired, and rode into the town, where I remained 
five days, and was able to buy enough barter-goods to keep me 
going for six or nine months. The crops have nearly all failed 
this year at the Barotse, so that living will be very dear; and 
I have to pay a heavy price here for very poor calico : the white 
is the best for buying food. 
Leaving Panda-ma-tenka again on the 26th July, I arrived at 
Leshuma on the fourth day. To show how quickly the water 
dries up here, I may mention that where, ten days before, we 
found quite a large piece of water, we now had to dig for it, and 
only got a little muddy stuff for our trouble. 
VISIT TO VICTORIA FALLS. 
August ']th, 1883. — Having now a suitable opportunity I started 
from Leshuma this morning for the Victoria Falls. Had a 
pleasant day's walk to the river over desolate country. Camped 
in the evening on the steep, wooded banks of the Zambesi, 
surrounded by most beautiful scenery. 
d,th. — Walked some distance along the river, stopping opposite 
to Sepupwa's town to engage one or two more carriers, and buy 
corn, etc. 
gth. — The country was very rough and wild ; no path ; con- 
stant stumbling over big boulders, and ploughing through high 
grass and reeds. The grass in many places is like long lances, 
cutting one's hands and face frightfully at times. Mr. Selous 
fell into a game-pit, and got hurt slightly. These pits are very 
cleverly covered over with sticks, grass, etc., so that they are very 
dangerous to strangers. 
On the morning of the sixth day after leaving Leshuma we 
reached the Falls. I had expected something grand, but never 
anything so stupendous and terrific as they appear ; yet they are 
beautiful in the extreme. The depth of the fall of water is about 
400 feet. In some parts it breaks, in descending, over projecting 
