THE REGION SOUTH OF THE ZAMBESI. 271 
Our way of going to work was as follows : As soon 
as the clay began to break we manned our whaling 
sloop, which was rowed by five sturdy natives. This 
boat had been brought from D’Urban, a distance of 
one hundred and twenty miles, in an ox-cart, and had 
arrived safely after many details and vicissitudes. As 
we cautiously rowed along the reed-covered shores of 
the lake we often came suddenly upon the hippopotami, 
CROCODILES ATTACKING NATIVES. 
which would swim round our little bark, snorting, 
growling and grunting. As these lakes had never 
before been visited by hunters, the animals showed 
very little shyness, and sometimes came within a few 
yards of the boat, much to the terror of the natives, 
who are bad sailors and never feel at home on the 
water. 
And now crack go the guns, the water heaves, and 
down dive the animals; but as they dash along at the 
