254 
WATER-FOAVL—ALLIGATORS. 
Chap. XLV. 
feeding. They have a strong black spur on the shoulder like the 
armed plover, and as strong as that on the heel of a cock, but are 
never seen to use them, except in defence of their young. They 
choose anthills for their nests; and, in the time of laying, the 
Barotse consume vast quantities of their eggs. There are also 
two varieties of geese, of somewhat smaller size, but better 
eating. One of these, the Egyptian goose or Vulpanser, cannot 
rise from the water, and druing the floods of the river great 
numbers are Idlled by being piusued in canoes. The tliird is 
furnished with a peculiar knob on the beak. These, with myriads 
of ducks of three varieties, abound everywhere on the Leeambye. 
On one occasion the canoe neared a bank on wliich a large 
flock was sitting. Two shots furnished oiu whole party with a 
supper, for we picked up seventeen ducks and a goose. No 
wonder the Barotse always look back to this fruitful valley as the 
Israelites did to the flesh-pots of Egypt. The poorest persons 
are so well supplied with food from their gardens, fruits from 
the forest trees, and fish from the river, that their cliildren, when 
taken into the service of the ]\Iakololo, where they have only one 
large meal a-day, become quite emaciated and pine for a retiun 
to their parents. 
Part of our company marched along the banks with the oxen, 
and part went in the canoes, but om’ pace was regulated by 
the speed of the men on shore. Them comrse was rather difficult, 
on account of the numbers of departing and re-entering branches 
of the Leeambye, which they had to avoid, or wait at till we 
ferried them over. The number of alligators is prodigious, and 
in this river they are more savage than in some others. Many 
cliildi'en are carried off annually at Sesheke and other towns; 
for, notwithstanding the danger, when they go down for water 
they almost always must play awliile. This reptile is said by the 
natives to strike the victim with its tail, then drag liim in and 
drown him. Wlien lying in the water watching for prey, tlie 
body never appears. Many calves are lost also, and it is seldom 
that a number of cows can swim over at Sesheke without some 
loss. I never could avoid shuddering on seeing my men 
swimming across these branches, after one of them had been 
caught by the thigh and taken below. He, however, retained, as 
nearly all of them in the most trying circumstances do, his full 
