WE ENTER MOREMI’S COUNTRY 261 
practically gained in tlie country prove the wisdom of this 
step. Later, as the rainy season sets in, the clouds interfere 
with the direct action of the sun, a much cooler and more 
agreeable temperature rules the atmosphere. 
We met another of Intuhe’s men from the lake on the road 
down. He evidently was here to report to his chief how we 
progressed along the river; he was instrumental in procuring 
us a good supply of corn from the natives, which formed a very 
welcome addition to our fast-diminishing stock of food. 
Next day we came upon an open expanse of the river 
literally swarming with hippopotami, rolling and grunting in the 
water. It is a very magnificent sight to observe these huge 
beasts at play, chasing each other about, appearing like small 
iron-clads as they jump half body out of water, and snap their 
huge jaws together, with a report like the crack of a pistol- 
shot. We waited here to see if there was a possibility of 
killing one of them for food, but as they seemed very wary, 
and we had no boat to approach them nearer with, we went 
on, passing through some thick hush with many fine trees, in 
fragrant blossom. Fortunately we came upon great swarms of 
guinea-fowl, feeding in cornfields, which supplied us with food 
as before. The last two days we made twenty-five and a half 
miles in a south-east direction. 
On September the 11th we passed a village of Mosaros, here 
called ‘ Makalahari’ by the Mombokooshus, the most appro¬ 
priate name for these people we have yet heard, as it indicates 
their place of abode, and were told that now we trod soil 
claimed by King ‘ Moremi ’ of Lake Ngami, Letchulatebe’s son. 
We traded corn from these Makalahari, who were the most 
domesticated lot of that wandering tribe we had hitherto met. 
The difference in their behaviour to that of our past experiences 
amongst the avaricious, sharp Mombokooshus came as a 
pleasant surprise to us who had lately been accustomed to 
wrangle for every ordinary privilege. They brought only seven¬ 
teen pounds of corn, saying they were afraid to enter into a 
larger trade, owing to the absence of their head man, whom they 
