152 
ALLIGATORS' EGGS. 
strong intornal membrane and but little lime u. its compo 
sition. Tho distance from the water was about ten feet 
and there woro evidences of the samo place having been 
used for a similar purpose in former years. A broad path 
led up from tho water to the nest, and tho dam, it was said 
by my companions, after depositing tho eggs, covers thorn 
up, and returns afterward to assist the young out of the 
placo of confinement and out of tho egg. Sho loads thorn 
to the edge of tho water, and then leaves them to catch 
small fish lor themselves. 
When wo reached tho part of tho river opposito to tho 
villago of Manenko, tho first female chief whom wo encoun- 
tered, two of the people called Balunda, or Balonda, came 
to us in their little canoe. From them wo learned that 
Kolimbota, ono of our party, who had been in tho habit of 
visiting theso parts, was behoved by the Balonda to have 
acted as a guido to tho marauders under Lcrimo, whoso 
captives we wero now returning. They very naturally 
suspected this, from tho facility with which their villages 
had been found; and, as they had sinco removed them to 
some distanco from tho river, thoy wero unwilling to lead 
us to their placos of concealment. Wo were in bad repute; 
but, having a captivo boy and girl to show in evidence of 
Sekelctu and ourselves not being partakers in tho guilt of 
inforior men, I could fully express my desire that all should 
livo in peace. Thoy evidently folt that I ought to hare 
taught tho Makololo first, boforo coming to them; for thoy 
remarked that what I advanced was vory good, but guilt 
lay at tho door of tho Makololo for disturbing tho pro- 
viously-existing peaco. They then went away to report 
us to Manenko. 
Wkon tho strangers visited us again in tho evening, they 
woro accompanied by a number of tho peoplo of an Am* 
b5nda chief named Sokolonko. The Ambonda livo far to 
tho N.W.; their language (tho Bonda) is tho common dia- 
lect in Angola. Sckclenko had fled, and was now living 
with his villago as a vassal of Masiko. Sckclenko had 
