Chap, XIV. 
PIGEONS—FISH. 
261 
does not stand long upon them—hence the crop of trees. Where 
it remains for any length of time, trees cannot live. On the 
right bank, or that in which the Loeti flows, there is an exten¬ 
sive flat country called Manga, wliich, though covered with grass, 
is destitute in a great measure of trees. 
Flocks of green pigeons rose from the trees as we passed along 
the banks, and the notes of many birds told that we were now 
among strangers of the feathered tribe. The beautiful trogon, 
with bright scarlet breast and black back, uttered a most 
peculiar note, similar to that we read of as having once been 
emitted by Memnon, and likened to the tuning of a lyre. The 
boatmen answered it by calling Nama, nama! ”—meat, meat 
—as if they thought that a repetition of the note would be a 
good omen for om’ success in hunting. Many more interesting 
birds were met; but I could make no collection, as I was pro¬ 
ceeding on the plan of having as little luggage as possible, so as 
not to excite the cupidity of those tlirough whose country we 
intended to pass. 
Vast shoals of fish come down the Leeambye with the rising 
waters, as we observed they also do in the Zouga. They are 
probably induced to make this migTation, by the increased 
rapidity of the cmrent dislodging them from their old pastoe- 
grounds higher up the river. Insects constitute but a small 
portion of the food of many fish. Fine vegetable matter, like 
slender mosses, growing on the bottom, is devom:ed greedily; 
and, as the fishes are dislodged from the main stream by the 
force of the current, and find abundant pastmre on the flooded 
plains, the whole community becomes disturbed and wanders. 
The mosala (ClariaB Capensis and Glanis siluris), the mullet 
{Mugil Africanus), and other fishes, spread over the Barotse 
valley in such numbers that, when the waters retire, all the 
people are employed in cutting them up and drying them in the 
sun. The supply exceeds the demand, and the land in numerous 
places is said to emit a most offensive smell. Wherever you see 
the Zambesi in the centre of the country, it is remarkable for 
the abundance of animal life in and upon its waters, and on the 
adjacent banks. 
We passed gTeat numbers of hippopotami. They are very 
