Chap. XYII. LOVE OF BALONDA FOE THEIR MOTHERS. 
309 
months together. They were not flooded by the Leeba, for that 
was still far within its banks. Here and there, dotted over the 
surface, are little islands, on wliich grow stunted date-bushes and 
scraggy trees. The plains themselves are covered with a tliick 
sward of grass, which conceals the water, and makes the flats 
appear like great pale yellow-coloured prairie-lands, with a clear 
horizon, except where interrupted here and there by trees. The 
clear rain-water must have stood some time among the grass, for 
great numbers of lotus-flowers were seen in full blow; and the 
runs of water tortoises and crabs were observed; other animals 
also, which prey on the fish that find their way to the plains. 
The continual splashing of the oxen keeps the feet of the rider 
constantly wet, and my men complain of the perpetual moisture 
of the paths by which we have travelled in Londa, as softening 
their horny soles. The only information we can glean is from 
Intemese, who points out the different localities as we pass along, 
and among the rest Mokala a Mama,” his “ mama’s home.” 
It was interesting to hear this tall grey-headed man recall the 
memories of boyhood. All the Makalaka children cleave to the 
mother in cases of separation, or removal from one part of the 
country to another. This love for mothers does not argue 
superior morality in other respects, or else Intemese has for¬ 
gotten any injunctions his mama may have given him not to tell 
lies. The respect, however, with which he spoke of her, was 
quite characteristic of his race. The Bechuanas, on the con¬ 
trary, care notliing for their mothers, but cling to then’ fathers, 
especially if they have any expectation of becoming heirs to their 
cattle. Our Bakwain guide to the lake, Rachosi, told me that 
his mother lived in the country of Sebituane, but, though a good 
specimen of the Bechuanas, he laughed at the idea of going so 
far as from the Lake Ngami to the Chobe, merely for the 
purpose of seeing her. Had he been one of the Makalaka, he 
never would have parted from her. 
We made our beds on one of the islands, and were wretchedly 
supplied with firewood. The booths constructed by the men were 
but sorry shelter, for the rain poured down without intermission 
till mid-day. There is no drainage for the prodigious masses of 
water on these plains, except slow percolation into the different 
feeders of the Leeba, and into that river itself. The quantity of 
