NATURAL WELLS. 
1© 
those are only known to a few, they act on the principle 
that it is best to let them all alone. The gloom of these 
forests strengthens the superstitious feelings of the people. 
In other quarters, where they are not subjected to this 
influence, I havo heard the chiefs issue proclamations to 
the effect that real witchcraft-medicines had been placed at 
certain gardens from which produce had been stolon, the 
thieves having risked the power of the ordinary charms 
previously placed there. 
There was considerable pleasure, in spito of rain and 
fever, in this new scenery. Tho deep gloom contrasted 
strongly with the shadoless glaro of the Kalahari, which 
had loft an indelible impression on my memory. Though 
drenched day by day at this time, and for months after- 
ward, it was loDg beforo I could boliovo that we wore 
getting too much of a good thing. Nor could I look at 
water being thrown away without a slight, quick impros 
sion flitting across tho mind that wo were guilty of wast- 
ing it. Every now and thon wo emerged from tho deep 
gloom into a pretty little valley, having a damp portion in 
tho middlo ; which, though now filled with water, at other 
times contains moisture enough for wells only. These wells 
havo shades put over them in tho form of little huts. 
We crossed, in canoes, a little never-failing stream, which 
passes by tho name of Lofuje, or “ the rapid.” It comes 
from a goodly high mountain, called Monakadzi, (the 
woman,) which gladdened our eyes as it rose to our sight 
about twenty or thirty miles to the east of our course. It 
is of an oblong shape, and soomed at least eight hundred 
feet above the plains. Tho Lofuje probably derives its 
name from tho rapid descent of tho short course it has to 
flow from Monakadzi to tho Leoba. 
Tho number of little villages seemed about equal to the 
number of valleys. At some we stopped and rostod, the 
people becoming more liberal as wo advancod. Others we 
found deserted, a sudden panic having seized tho inhabit- 
ant*, though the drum of Nanenko was kept boaton pretty 
