LIBONTA. 
143 
fiioo of tno sand-bank is perforated with hundreds of holos 
loading to their nests, each of which is about a foot apart 
from tko other; and as wo pass they pour out of their 
hiding-places and float overhead. 
17 th December . — At Libonta. We wore detained for days 
together collecting contributions of fat and butter, accord- 
ing to the orders of Sokclotu, as presents to the Balonda 
chiefs. Much fovor prevailed, and ophthalmia was rifo, as 
is generally tho case before tho rains begin. Some of my 
own men required my assistance, as well as tho pooplo of 
Libonta. A lion had done a good deal of mischief horo_ 
and when tho people went to attack it two men were badly 
wounded; ono of them had his thigh-bone quito broken, 
showing tho prodigious power of this animal’s jaws. The 
inflammation produced by the teeth-wounds proved fatal to 
ono of them. 
Hero wo demanded the remainder of tho captives, and 
got our number increased to ninctoen. They consisted of 
women and children, and ono young man of twonty. One 
of tho boys was smuggled away in tho crowd as wo em- 
barked. Tho Makololo under-chiefs often act in diroct 
opposition to tho will of tho head-chief, trusting to cir- 
cumstances and brazcn-facodness to screen themselves from 
his open displeasure; and, as ho does not always find it 
convenient to notice faults, they often go to considerable 
lengths in wrong-doing. 
Libonta is the last town of the Makololo ; so, whon we 
parted from it, wo had only a few cattle-stations and out- 
lying hamlets in front, and then an uninhabited bordor- 
country till wo camo to Londa or Lunda. Libonta is situ- 
ated on a mound, like tho rost of tho villages in tho Barotso 
valloy, but hero tho tree-covered sides of tho valley begin 
to approach nearer tho rivor. Tho village itself belongs to 
two cf tho chief wives of Sebituane, who furnished ns with 
Un ox and abundanco of other food. Tho same kindness 
Was manifested by all who could afford to give any thing; 
an d, as I glanco over thoir doods of.gonerosily recordod in 
