Chap. XXIV. 
LEVEL PLAINS —BIEDS. 
471 
CHAPTEE XXIV. 
Level plains ^—-Vultures and other birds — Diversity of colour in flowers of the 
same species — The sundew — Twenty-seventh attack of fever — A river 
which flows in opposite directions — Lake Dilolo the watershed between 
Atlantic and Indian Oceans — Position of rocks — Sir Koderick Murchison’s 
explanation — Characteristics of rainy season in connexion with the floods 
of the Zambesi and the Nile — Probable reason of difference in amount of rain 
south and north of the equator — Arab reports of region east of Londa— 
Probable watershed of the Zambesi and the Nile—Lake Dilolo—Peach 
Katema’s town: his renewed hospitality; desire to appear like a white 
man; ludicrous departure — Jackdaws — Ford southern branch of Lake 
Dilolo — Small fish — Project for a Makololo village near the confluence of 
the Leeba and the Leeambye—-Hearty welcome from Shinte — Kolim- 
bota’s wound — Plant-seeds and fruit-trees brought from Angola — Masiko 
and Limboa’s quarrel — Nyamoana now a wndow — Purchase canoes and 
descend the Leeba—Herds of wild animals on its banks — Unsuccessful 
buffalo-hunt — Frogs — Sinbad and the tsetse — Despatch a message to 
Manenko — Arrival of her husband Sambanza — The ceremony called 
Kasendi — Unexpected fee for performing a surgical operation ■— Social 
condition of the tribes —Desertion of Mboenga — Stratagem of Mambowe 
hunters—Water-turtles — Charged by a buffalo — Eeception from the 
people of Libonta — Explain the causes of our long delay — Pitsane’s 
speech — Thanksgiving services—Appearance of my “Braves”—Won¬ 
derful kindness of the people. 
Aftek leaving the Kasai, we entered upon the extensive level 
plains wliich we had formerly found in a flooded condition. The 
water on them was not yet dried up, as it still remained in certain 
hoUow spots. Vultures were seen floating in the air, showing 
that carrion was to be found; and, indeed, we saw several of the 
large game, but so exceedingly wild as to be unapproachable. 
Numbers of caterpfllars mounted the stalks of gvass, and many 
dragonflies and butterflies appeared, though this was winter. The 
caprimulgus or goat-sucker, swifts, and diflerent kinds of swallows, 
with a fiery-red bee-eater in flocks, showed that the lowest tem¬ 
perature here, does not destroy the insects on which they feed. 
Jet-black larks, with yellow shoulders, enliven the mornings with 
their songs, but they do not continue so long on the wing as om’s, 
nor soar so high. We saw many of the pretty white ardea, and 
