122 
THE HERALD. 
Inundated; their gontlo rise from the dead level of the 
valley much resembles tho edge of tho Desert in the valley 
of tho Kilo. 
I imagined tho slight elevation (Katongo) might be 
healthy, but was informed that no part of this region is 
exompt from fever. When tho waters begin to retire from 
this valley, such masses of decayed vegetation and mud 
are exposed to tho torrid sun that oven tho natives suffer 
sovorcly from attacks of fover. Tho grass is so rank in 
its growth that one cannot sco tho black alluvial soil of 
tho bottom of this periodical lako. Even when tho grass 
falls down in winter, or is “laid” by its own weight, one is 
obliged to lilt tho feet so high, to avoid being tripped up 
by it, as to make walking excessively fatiguing. Young 
leches aro hidden beneath it by their dams; and tho Mako- 
lolo youth complain of being unable to run in tho Barotso 
land on this account. There was evidently no healthy 
spot in this quartor; and, tho current of tho river boing 
about four and a half miles per hour, (one hundred yards 
in sixty Bcconds,) I imagined wo might find what wo needed 
in tho higher lands, from which the river seemed to come. 
I rosolvcd, therefore, to go to tho utmost limits of tho Ba- 
rotso country beforo coming to a final conclusion. Katongo 
was tho best place wo had scon ; but, in ordor to accomplish 
a complete examination, I left Sckolotu at Naliolo, and 
ascended tho river. lie furnished mo with men, besides 
my rowers, and among tho rest a herald, that 1 might 
ontor his villages in what is considered a dignified manner. 
This, it was supposed, would bo effected by tho herald 
shouting out, at tho top of his voice, “Here comes tho lord, 
tho groat lion;” tho latter phrase boing “tau e t5na,” 
which, in his imperfect way of pronunciation, became 
“sau o t5na,” and so like “tho great sow” that I could not 
receive tho honor with becoming gravity, and had to 
entreat him, much to tho annoyance of my party, to be 
silent. 
In our ascent we visited a number of Makololo villageii 
