Chap. XIV. 
BIEDS—SPONGES. 
249 
A speckled kingfisher is seen nearly every hundred yards, 
which builds in similar spots, and attracts the attention of herd- 
boys, who dig out its nest for the sake of the young. This, 
and a most lovely little blue-and-orange kingfisher, are seen 
everywhere along the banks, dashing down like a shot into the 
water for their prey. A third, seen more rarely, is as large as a 
pigeon, and is of a slaty colour. 
Another inhabitant of the banks is the sand-martin, which 
also likes company in the work of raising a family. They 
never leave this part of the country. One may see them 
preening themselves in the very depth of winter, while the 
swallows, of which we shall yet speak, take winter trips. I 
saw sand-martins at the Orange river during a period of winter 
frost; it is, therefore, probable that they do not migrate even 
from thence. 
Around the reeds, which in some parts line the banks, we see 
fresh-water sponges. They usually encircle the stalk, and are 
hard and brittle, presenting numbers of small round grains near 
their circumference. 
The river was running at the rate of five miles an hour, and 
carried bunches of reed and decaying vegetable matter on its 
surface; yet the water was not discoloured. It had, however, 
a slightly yellowish-green tinge, somewhat deeper than its 
natural colour. This arose from the quantity of sand carried 
by the rising flood from sandbanks, which are annually shifted 
from one spot to another, and from the pieces falling in as the 
banks are worn; for when the water is allowed to stand in a 
glass, a few seconds suffice for its deposit at the bottom. This 
is considered an unhealthy period. When waiting, on one 
occasion, for the other canoes to come up, I felt no inclination 
to leave the one I was in ; but my head boatman, Mashauana, 
told me never to remain on board while so much vegetable 
matter was floating down the stream. 
Ylth December.—-Ax Libonta. We were detained for days 
together collecting contributions of fat and butter, according 
to the orders of Sekeletu, as presents to the Balonda chiefs. 
Much fever prevailed, and ophthalmia was rife, as is generally 
the case before the rains begin. Some of my own men required 
my assistance, as well as the people of Libonta. A lion had 
