A SWIM IN RECORD TIME 
93 
sion on it, and we had to abandon the attempt to get at the 
honey. We passed a village on the mainland whose inhabitants 
surprised by our sudden appearance, fled hurriedly into the 
reeds, leaving all their utensils and belongings behind, so great 
was their haste to get out of reach of what they took to be an 
invading force. Paul wished to wreak his vengeance on the 
people for past insults at the Sunta by looting and burning 
their huts; but we insisted on passing without allowing any one 
to touch the least thing or disturb the huts, much to the general 
disappointment of the boys, who in true native style cannot 
understand why, when a thing is at their mercy, they should 
not c collar the lot.’ 
From the natives, who had no reluctance to converse with 
our boys from their hiding-place in the reeds, we found that the 
Sesutu—Basuto—language is well understood, although the tribes 
inhabiting the Barotzi valley each have their own dialect as well. 
On July the 17th, as we were walking along the Chobe 
banks, our course was intercepted by a large open creek with 
flowing water, fifty yards wide, running sharply, and too deep 
to ford. I undressed to test it, and soon found myself out of 
depth, but swam across to get a view on the other side to see 
if the stream might not possibly be a loop of the Chobe, an idea 
Hammar entertained. However, as no apparent sign of an inlet 
was visible from the position I gained, I returned, with many 
misgivings of possible crocodiles in the water I had to swim 
back over, that might by this time have been attracted to the 
spot by the scent left as I crossed. There was nothing for it 
but to make a plunge; so with a run I took a tremendous 
header from the bank, hoping to scare any possible vermin 
away by the splash, and swam across in record time. I believe 
that the ‘ boys ’ noticed my dilemma, for three of the best of 
them—Chiki, Paul, and Kalaluka—with commendable courage, 
jumped in simultaneously with me from their side and came to 
meet me. Together we reached the opposite shore, amidst con¬ 
siderable excitement of the other boys, who all joined in their 
warning not to risk swimming in these dangerous waters. 
