36 
THE NEW AFRICA 
rooted to a small island on the falls’ brink, forced into action 
by the air current from below, tosses its fan-shaped leaves as if 
in wild despair at the inevitable fate that soon must engulf it. 
Aloft, the soaring fish-eagle screams, with shrill, plaintive in¬ 
tonation, a protest at 
the invasion of his soli¬ 
tude, while bright birds, 
like rays of golden light, 
darting from island to 
island, recall the en¬ 
thralled senses back to 
cheerful life from the 
dark, mysterious, hiss¬ 
ing, angry abyss on the 
right. 
Our first care was to 
build a substantial hut 
as protection against 
possible bad weather— 
an unnecessary pre¬ 
caution ; for, now we 
were prepared, the 
weather was all that 
could be desired. We 
SPECIMEN OF BAOBAB TREE, VICTORIA FALLS 
noticed a peculiar red 
gummy juice oozing from the saplings we cut to build the 
hut with. Later information we gathered concerning this juice 
is that it has a commercial value as a gum. 
Hammar and I, in uncontrollable desire, rushed off immedi¬ 
ately the hut was finished to inspect the falls, but were cruelly 
disappointed in getting a view; for the blinding spray and 
rising clouds completely enveloped the face of the falls, only 
affording an occasional glimpse of what we so eagerly wished to 
see, as the rising clouds for a moment are swept aside by a 
stronger breeze than usual. Gazing downwards, the same 
hindrance obscured the view; a vast dim grey, almost violet, 
