TheremainderoftheKebrabasapath,ontoChicova,wasclosetothecompressedandrockyriver。Rangesofloftytree-coveredmountains,withdeepnarrowvalleys,inwhicharedrywatercourses,orflowingrivulets,stretchfromthenorth-west,andareprolongedontheoppositesideoftheriverinasouth-easterlydirection。Lookingback,themountainsceneryinKebrabasawasmagnificent;conspicuousfromtheirformandsteepsides,arethetwogiganticportalsofthecataract;thevastforestsstillworetheirmanybrilliantautumnal-
colouredtintsofgreen,yellow,red,purple,andbrown,thrownintoreliefbythegreybarkofthetrunksinthebackground。Amongthesevariegatedtreesweresomeconspicuousfortheirnewliveryoffreshlight-greenleaves,asthoughthewinterofotherswastheirspring。
Thebrightsunshineinthesemountainforests,andtheever-changingformsofthecloudshadows,glidingoverportionsofthesurface,addedfreshcharmstoscenesalreadysurpassinglybeautiful。
FromwhatwehaveseenoftheKebrabasarocksandrapids,itappearstooevidentthattheymustalwaysformabarriertonavigationattheordinarylowwateroftheriver;buttheriseofthewaterinthisgorgebeingasmuchaseightyfeetperpendicularly,itisprobablethatasteamermightbetakenupathighflood,whenalltherapidsaresmoothedover,torunontheUpperZambesi。Themostformidablecataractinit,Morumbwa,hasonlyabouttwentyfeetoffall,inadistanceofthirtyyards,anditmustentirelydisappearwhenthewaterstandseightyfeethigher。ThoseoftheMakololowhoworkedonboardtheshipwerenotsorryatthesteamerbeingleftbelow,astheyhadbecomeheartilytiredofcuttingthewoodthattheinsatiablefurnaceofthe\"Asthmatic\"required。Mbia,whowasabitofawag,laughinglyexclaimedinbrokenEnglish,\"Oh,Kebrabasagood,verygood;noletshippeeuptoSekeletu,toomucheework,cutteewoodyee,cutteewoodyee:Kebrabasagood。”Itiscurrentlyreported,andcommonlybelieved,thatonceuponatimeaPortuguesenamedJosePedra,——bythenativescalledNyamatimbira,——chief,orcapitaomor,ofZumbo,amanoflargeenterpriseandsmallhumanity,——
beinganxioustoascertainifKebrabasacouldbenavigated,madetwoslavesfasttoacanoe,andlauncheditfromChicovaintoKebrabasa,inordertoseeifitwouldcomeoutattheotherend。Asneitherslavesnorcanoeeverappearedagain,hisExcellencyconcludedthatKebrabasawasunnavigable。Atraderhadalargecanoesweptawaybyasuddenriseoftheriver,anditwasfoundwithoutdamagebelow;
butthemostsatisfactoryinformationwasthatofoldSandia,whoassertedthatinfloodallKebrabasabecamequitesmooth,andhehadoftenseenitso。
Weemergedfromthethirty-fiveorfortymilesofKebrabasahillsintotheChicovaplainsonthe7thofJune,1860,havingmadeshortmarchesalltheway。Thecoldnightscausedsomeofourmentocoughbadly,andcoldsinthiscountryalmostinvariablybecomefever。TheZambesisuddenlyexpandsatChicova,andassumesthesizeandappearanceithasatTette。Nearthispointwefoundalargeseamofcoalexposedintheleftbank。
Wemetwithnativetravellersoccasionally。Thoseonalongjourneycarrywiththemasleeping-matandwoodenpillow,cooking-potandbagofmeal,pipeandtobacco-pouch,aknife,bow,andarrows,andtwosmallsticks,offromtwotothreefeetinlength,formakingfire,whenobligedtosleepawayfromhumanhabitations。Drywoodisalwaysabundant,andtheygetfirebythefollowingmethod。Anotchiscutinoneofthesticks,which,withaclose-grainedoutside,hasasmallcoreofpith,andthisnotchedstickislaidhorizontallyonaknife-bladeontheground;theoperatorsquatting,placeshisgreattoesoneachendtokeepallsteady,andtakingtheotherwandwhichisofveryhardwoodcuttoabluntpoint,fitsitintothenotchatrightangles;theuprightwandismadetospinrapidlybackwardsandforwardsbetweenthepalmsofthehands,drillfashion,andatthesametimeispresseddownwards;thefriction,inthecourseofaminuteorso,ignitesportionsofthepithofthenotchedstick,which,rollingoverlikelivecharcoalontotheknife-blade,areliftedintoahandfuloffinedrygrass,andcarefullyblown,bywavingbackwardsandforwardsintheair。Itishardworkforthehandstoprocurefirebythisprocess,asthevigorousdrillinganddownwardpressurerequisitesoonblistersoftpalms。
Havingnowenteredacountrywherelionswerenumerous,ourmenbegantopaygreaterattentiontothearrangementsofthecampatnight。
Astheyareaccustomedtodowiththeirchiefs,theyplacethewhitemeninthecentre;Kanyata,hismen,andthetwodonkeys,camponourright;TubaMokoro\'spartyofBashubiaareinfront;Masakasa,andSininyane\'sbodyofBatoka,ontheleft;andintherearsixTettemenhavetheirfires。Inplacingtheirfirestheyarecarefultoputthemwherethesmokewillnotblowinourfaces。Soonafterwehalt,thespotfortheEnglishisselected,andallregulatetheirplacesaccordingly,anddeposittheirburdens。Thementakeitbyturnstocutsomeofthetalldrygrass,andspreaditforourbedsonaspot,eithernaturallylevel,orsmoothedbythehoe;some,appointedtocarryourbedding,thenbringourrugsandkarosses,andplacethethreerugsinarowonthegrass;Dr。Livingstone\'sbeinginthemiddle,Dr。Kirk\'sontheright,andCharlesLivingstone\'sontheleft。Ourbags,rifles,andrevolversarecarefullyplacedatourheads,andafiremadenearourfeet。Wehavenotentnorcoveringofanykindexceptthebranchesofthetreeunderwhichwemayhappentolie;anditisaprettysighttolookupandseeeverybranch,leaf,andtwigofthetreestandout,reflectedagainsttheclearstar-spangledandmoonlitsky。Thestarsofthefirstmagnitudehavenameswhichconveythesamemeaningoververywidetractsofcountry。
HerewhenVenuscomesoutintheevenings,sheiscalledNtanda,theeldestorfirst-born,andManjika,thefirst-bornofmorning,atothertimes:shehassomuchradiancewhenshiningalone,thatshecastsashadow。SiriusisnamedKuewausiko,\"drawerofnight,\"
becausesupposedtodrawthewholenightafterit。Themoonhasnoevilinfluenceinthiscountry,sofarasweknow。Wehavelainandlookedupather,tillsweetsleepclosedoureyes,unharmed。Fourorfiveofourmenwereaffectedwithmoon-blindnessatTette;thoughtheyhadnotsleptoutofdoorsthere,theybecamesoblindthattheircomradeshadtoguidetheirhandstothegeneraldishoffood;
theaffectionisunknownintheirowncountry。Whenourposterityshallhavediscoveredwhatitiswhich,distinctfromfoulsmells,causesfever,andwhat,apartfromthemoon,causesmentobemoon-
struck,theywillpityourdulnessofperception。
Themencutaverysmallquantityofgrassforthemselves,andsleepinfumbasorsleeping-bags,whicharedoublematsofpalm-leaf,sixfeetlongbyfourwide,andsewntogetherroundthreepartsofthesquare,andleftopenonlyononeside。Theyareusedasaprotectionfromthecold,wet,andmosquitoes,andareenteredasweshouldgetintoourbeds,weretheblanketsnailedtothetop,bottom,andonesideofthebedstead。
Adozenfiresarenightlykindledinthecamp;andthese,beingreplenishedfromtimetotimebythemenwhoareawakenedbythecold,arekeptburninguntildaylight。Abundanceofdryhardwoodisobtainedwithlittletrouble;andburnsbeautifully。Afterthegreatbusinessofcookingandeatingisover,allsitroundthecamp-fires,andengageintalkingorsinging。EveryeveningoneoftheBatokaplayshis\"sansa,\"andcontinuesatituntilfarintothenight;heaccompaniesitwithanextemporesong,inwhichherehearsestheirdeedseversincetheylefttheirowncountry。Attimesanimatedpoliticaldiscussionsspringup,andtheamountofeloquenceexpendedontheseoccasionsisamazing。Thewholecampisaroused,andthemenshouttooneanotherfromthedifferentfires;whilstsome,whosetonguesareneverheardonanyothersubject,burstforthintoimpassionedspeech。
Asaspecimenofourmodeofmarching,weriseaboutfive,orassoonasdawnappears,takeacupofteaandabitofbiscuit;theservantsfolduptheblanketsandstowthemawayinthebagstheycarry;theotherstietheirfumbasandcooking-potstoeachendoftheircarrying-sticks,whichareborneontheshoulder;thecooksecuresthedishes,andallareonthepathbysunrise。Ifaconvenientspotcanbefoundwehaltforbreakfastaboutninea。m。Tosavetime,thismealisgenerallycookedthenightbefore,andhasonlytobewarmed。Wecontinuethemarchafterbreakfast,restalittleinthemiddleoftheday,andbreakoffearlyintheafternoon。Weaveragefromtwototwo-and-a-halfmilesanhourinastraightline,orasthecrowflies,andseldomhavemorethanfiveorsixhoursadayofactualtravel。Thisinahotclimateisasmuchasamancanaccomplishwithoutbeingoppressed;andwealwaystriedtomakeourprogressmoreapleasurethanatoil。Tohurryovertheground,abuse,andlookferociousatone\'snativecompanions,merelyforthefoolishvanityofboastinghowquicklyadistancewasaccomplished,isacombinationofsillinesswithabsurdityquiteodious;whilekindlyconsiderationforthefeelingsofevenblacks,thepleasureofobservingsceneryandeverythingnewasonemovesonatanordinarypace,andtheparticipationinthemostdeliciousrestwithourfellows,rendertravellingdelightful。Thoughnotgiventooverhaste,wewerealittlesurprisedtofindthatwecouldtireourmenout;andeventheheadman,whocarriedbutlittlemorethanwedid,andnever,asweoftenhadtodo,huntedintheafternoon,wasnobetterthanhiscomrades。OurexperiencetendstoprovethattheEuropeanconstitutionhasapowerofendurance,eveninthetropics,greaterthanthatofthehardiestofthemeat-eatingAfricans。
Afterpitchingourcamp,oneortwoofususuallygoofftohunt,moreasamatterofnecessitythanofpleasure,forthemen,aswellasourselves,musthavemeat。Weprefertotakeamanwithustocarryhomethegame,orleadtheotherstowhereitlies;butastheyfrequentlygrumbleandcomplainofbeingtired,wedonotparticularlyobjecttogoingalone,exceptthatitinvolvestheextralabourofourmakingasecondtriptoshowthemenwheretheanimalthathasbeenshotistobefound。Whenitisacoupleofmilesoffitisratherfatiguingtohavetogotwice;moreespeciallyonthedayswhenitissolelytosupplytheirwantsthat,insteadofrestingourselves,wegoatall。Likethosewhoperformbenevolentdeedsathome,thetiredhunter,thoughtryinghardtoliveincharitywithallmen,isstronglytemptedtogiveitupbybringingonlysufficientmeatforthethreewhitesandleavingtherest;thussendingthe\"idleungratefulpoor\"supperlesstobed。Andyetitisonlybycontinuanceinwell-doing,eventothelengthofwhattheworldly-wisecallweakness,thattheconvictionisproducedanywhere,thatourmotivesarehighenoughtosecuresincererespect。
Ajungleofmimosa,ebony,and\"wait-a-bit\"thornliesbetweentheChicovaflatsandthecultivatedplain,onwhichstandthevillagesofthechief,Chitora。Hebroughtusapresentoffoodanddrink,because,ashe,withtheinnatepolitenessofanAfrican,said,he\"didnotwishustosleephungry:hehadheardoftheDoctorwhenhepasseddown,andhadagreatdesiretoseeandconversewithhim;buthewasachildthen,andcouldnotspeakinthepresenceofgreatmen。HewasgladthathehadseentheEnglishnow,andwassorrythathispeoplewereaway,orheshouldhavemadethemcookforus。”
Allhissubsequentconductshowedhimtobesincere。
ManyoftheAfricanwomenareparticularaboutthewatertheyusefordrinkingandcooking,andpreferthatwhichisfilteredthroughsand。
Tosecurethis,theyscrapeholesinthesandbanksbesidethestream,andscoopupthewater,whichslowlyfiltersthrough,ratherthantakeitfromtheequallyclearandlimpidriver。ThispracticeiscommonintheZambesi,theRovuma,andLakeNyassa;andsomeofthePortugueseatTettehaveadoptedthenativecustom,andsendcanoestoalowislandinthemiddleoftheriverforwater。Chitora\'speoplealsoobtainedtheirsupplyfromshallowwellsinthesandybedofasmallrivuletclosetothevillage。Thehabitmayhavearisenfromobservingtheunhealthinessofthemainstreamatcertainseasons。Duringnearlyninemonthsintheyear,ordureisdepositedaroundcountlessvillagesalongthethousandsofmilesdrainedbytheZambesi。Whentheheavyrainscomedown,andsweepthevastfetidaccumulationintothetorrents,thewaterispollutedwithfilth;
and,butfortheprecautionmentioned,thenativeswouldprovethemselvesaslittlefastidiousasthoseinLondonwhodrinktheabominationpouredintotheThamesbyReadingandOxford。ItisnowonderthatsailorssufferedsomuchfromfeverafterdrinkingAfricanriverwater,beforethepresentadmirablesystemofcondensingitwasadoptedinournavy。
Thescentofmanisexcessivelyterribletogameofallkinds,muchmoreso,probably,thanthesightofhim。Aherdofantelopes,ahundredyardsoff,gazedatusaswemovedalongthewindingpath,andtimidlystoodtheirgrounduntilhalfourlinehadpassed,butdartedofftheinstantthey\"gotthewind,\"orcaughttheflavourofthosewhohadgoneby。ThesportisallupwiththehunterwhogetstothewindwardoftheAfricanbeast,asitcannotstandeventhedistantaromaofthehumanrace,somuchdreadedbyallwildanimals。
Isthisthefearandthedreadofman,whichtheAlmightysaidtoNoahwastobeuponeverybeastofthefield?Alionmay,whilelyinginwaitforhisprey,leaponahumanbeingashewouldonanyotheranimal,savearhinocerosoranelephant,thathappenedtopass;oralioness,whenshehascubs,mightattackaman,who,passing\"upthewindofher,\"hadunconsciously,byhisscent,alarmedherforthesafetyofherwhelps;orbuffaloes,amidotheranimals,mightrushatalineoftravellers,inapprehensionofbeingsurroundedbythem;butneitherbeastnorsnakewill,asageneralrule,turnonmanexceptwhenwounded,orbymistake。Ifgorillas,unwounded,advancetodobattlewithhim,andbeattheirbreastsindefiance,theyareanexceptiontoallwildbeastsknowntous。Fromthewayanelephantrunsatthefirstglanceofman,itisinferredthatthishugebrute,thoughreallykingofbeasts,wouldrunevenfromachild。
Ourtwodonkeyscausedasmuchadmirationasthethreewhitemen。
Greatwastheastonishmentwhenoneofthedonkeysbegantobray。
Thetimidjumpedmorethanifalionhadroaredbesidethem。Allwerestartled,andstaredinmuteamazementattheharsh-voicedone,tillthelastbrokennotewasuttered;then,onbeingassuredthatnothinginparticularwasmeant,theylookedateachother,andburstintoaloudlaughattheircommonsurprise。Whenonedonkeystimulatedtheothertotryhisvocalpowers,theinterestfeltbythestartledvisitors,musthaveequalledthatoftheLondoners,whentheyfirstcrowdedtoseethefamoushippopotamus。
Wewerenow,whenwecrossedtheboundaryrivuletNyamatarara,outofChicovaandamongstsandstonerocks,similartothosewhichprevailbetweenLupataandKebrabasa。Inthelattergorge,asalreadymentioned,igneousandsyeniticmasseshavebeenactedonbysomegreatfieryconvulsionofnature;thestrataarethrownintoahuddledheapofconfusion。ThecoalhasofcoursedisappearedinKebrabasa,butisfoundagaininChicova。TettegreysandstoneiscommonaboutSinjere,andwhereveritisseenwithfossilwooduponit,coalliesbeneath;andhere,asatChicova,someseamscropoutonthebanksoftheZambesi。Lookingsouthwards,thecountryisopenplainandwoodland,withdetachedhillsandmountainsinthedistance;butthelatteraretoofaroff,thenativessay,forthemtoknowtheirnames。Theprincipalhillsonourright,aswelookupstream,arefromsixtotwelvemilesaway,andoccasionallytheysenddownspurstotheriver,withbrooksflowingthroughtheirnarrowvalleys。ThebanksoftheZambesishowtwowell-definedterraces;
thefirst,orlowest,beingusuallynarrow,andofgreatfertility,whiletheupperoneisadrygrassyplain,athornyjungle,oramopane(Bauhinia)forest。Oneoftheseplains,neartheKafue,iscoveredwiththelargestumpsandtrunksofapetrifiedforest。WehaltedacoupleofdaysbythefinestreamSinjere,whichcomesfromtheChiroby-robyhills,abouteightmilestothenorth。Manylumpsofcoal,broughtdownbytherapidcurrent,lieinitschannel。Thenativesneverseemtohavediscoveredthatcoalwouldburn,and,wheninformedofthefact,shooktheirheads,smiledincredulously,andsaid\"Kodi\"(really),evidentlyregardingitasameretraveller\'stale。Theywereastoundedtoseeitburningfreelyonourfireofwood。Theytoldusthatplentyofitwasseenamongthehills;but,beinglongagoawarethatwewerenowinanimmensecoalfield,wedidnotcaretoexamineitfurther。
Adykeofblackbasalticrock,calledKakolole,crossestherivernearthemouthoftheSinjere;butithastwoopengatewaysinitoffromsixtytoeightyyardsinbreadth,andthechannelisverydeep。
Onashallowsandbank,underthedyke,layaherdofhippopotamiinfanciedsecurity。Theyoungoneswereplayingwitheachotherlikeyoungpuppies,climbingonthebacksoftheirdams,tryingtotakeholdofoneanotherbythejawsandtumblingoverintothewater。
Mbia,oneoftheMakololo,wadedacrosstowithinadozenyardsofthedrowsybeasts,andshotthefatheroftheherd;who,beingveryfat,soonfloated,andwassecuredatthevillagebelow。Theheadmanofthevillagevisiteduswhilewewereatbreakfast。Heworeablack\"ife\"wigandaprintedshirt。AfterashortsilencehesaidtoMasakasa,\"Youarewiththewhitepeople,sowhydoyounottellthemtogivemeacloth?\"\"Wearestrangers,\"answeredMasakasa,\"whydoyounotbringussomefood?\"Hetooktheplainhint,andbroughtustwofowls,inorderthatweshouldnotreportthatinpassinghimwegotnothingtoeat;and,asusual,wegaveaclothinreturn。Inreferencetothehippopotamushewouldmakenodemand,butsaidhewouldtakewhatwechosetogivehim。Themengorgedthemselveswithmeatfortwodays,andcutlargequantitiesintolongnarrowstrips,whichtheyhalf-driedandhalf-roastedonwoodenframesoverthefire。Muchgameistakeninthisneighbourhoodinpitfalls。Sharp-pointedstakesaresetinthebottom,onwhichthegametumblesandgetsimpaled。Thenativesarecarefultowarnstrangersofthesetraps,andalsoofthepoisonedbeamssuspendedonthetalltreesforthepurposeofkillingelephantsandhippopotami。
Itisnotdifficulttodetectthepitfallsafterone\'sattentionhasbeencalledtothem;butinplaceswheretheyarecarefultocarrytheearthofftoadistance,andapersonisnotthinkingofsuchthings,asuddendescentofninefeetisanexperiencenoteasilyforgottenbythetraveller。Thesensationsofonethusinstantaneouslyswallowedupbytheeartharepeculiar。Amomentarysuspensionofconsciousnessisfollowedbytherustlingsoundofashowerofsandanddrygrass,andthehalf-bewilderedthoughtofwhereheis,andhowhecameintodarkness。Reasonawakestoassurehimthathemusthavecomedownthroughthatsmallopeningofdaylightoverhead,andthatheisnowwhereahippopotamusoughttohavebeen。Thedescentofahippopotamuspitfalliseasy,buttogetoutagainintotheupperairisaworkoflabour。Thesidesaresmoothandtreacherous,andthecrossreeds,whichsupportthecovering,breakintheattempttogetoutbyclutchingthem。Acryfromthedepthsisunheardbythosearound,anditisonlybyrepeatedandmostdesperateeffortsthattheburiedalivecanregaintheupperworld。AtTettewearetoldofawhitehunter,ofunusuallysmallstature,whoplumpedintoapitwhilestalkingaguinea-fowlonatree。Itwasthelabourofanentireforenoontogetout;andhewascongratulatinghimselfonhisescape,andbrushingofftheclayfromhisclothes,whendownhewentintoasecondpit,whichhappened,asisoftenthecase,tobeclosebesidethefirst,anditwaseveningbeforehecouldworkhimselfoutofTHAT。
Elephantsandbuffaloesseldomreturntotheriverbythesamepathontwosuccessivenights,theybecomesoapprehensiveofdangerfromthishumanart。Anoldelephantwillwalkinadvanceoftheherd,anduncoverthepitswithhistrunk,thattheothersmayseetheopeningsandtreadonfirmground。Femaleelephantsaregenerallythevictims:moretimidbynaturethanthemales,andverymotherlyintheiranxietyfortheircalves,theycarrytheirtrunksup,tryingeverybreezeforfancieddanger,whichofteninrealityliesattheirfeet。Thetusker,fearingless,keepshistrunkdown,and,warnedintimebythatexquisitelysensitiveorgan,takesheedtohisways。
OurcampontheSinjerestoodunderawide-spreadingwildfig-tree。
Fromthenumbersofthisfamily,oflargesize,dottedoverthecountry,thefigorbanyanspecieswouldseemtohavebeenheldsacredinAfricafromtheremotesttimes。Thesoilteemedwithwhiteants,whoseclaytunnels,formedtoscreenthemfromtheeyesofbirds,threadovertheground,upthetrunksoftrees,andalongthebranches,fromwhichthelittlearchitectsclearawayallrottenordeadwood。Veryoftentheexactshapeofbranchesisleftintunnelsonthegroundandnotabitofthewoodinside。Thefirstnightwepassedherethesedestructiveinsectsatethroughourgrass-beds,andattackedourblankets,andcertainlargered-headedonesevenbitourflesh。
Onsomedaysnotasinglewhiteantistobeseenabroad;andonothers,andduringcertainhours,theyappearoutofdoorsinmyriads,andworkwithextraordinaryzealandenergyincarryingbitsofdriedgrassdownintotheirnests。Duringthesebusyreaping-fitsthelizardsandbirdshaveagoodtimeofit,andenjoyarichfeastattheexpenseofthousandsofhaplessworkmen;andwhentheyswarmtheyarecaughtincountlessnumbersbythenatives,andtheirroastedbodiesarespokenofinanunctuousmannerasresemblinggrainsofsoftricefriedindeliciousfreshoil。
Astrongmaraudingpartyoflargeblackantsattackedanestofwhiteonesnearthecamp:asthecontesttookplacebeneaththesurface,wecouldnotseetheorderofthebattle;butitsoonbecameapparentthattheblackshadgainedtheday,andsackedthewhitetown,fortheyreturnedintriumph,bearingofftheeggs,andchoicebitsofthebodiesofthevanquished。Agift,analogoustothatoflanguage,hasnotbeenwithheldfromants:ifpartoftheirbuildingisdestroyed,anofficialisseencomingouttoexaminethedamage;and,afteracarefulsurveyoftheruins,hechirrupsafewclearanddistinctnotes,andacrowdofworkersbeginatoncetorepairthebreach。Whentheworkiscompleted,anotherorderisgiven,andtheworkmenretire,aswillappearonremovingthesoftfreshly-builtportion。Wetriedtosleeponerainymightinanativehut,butcouldnotbecauseofattacksbythefightingbattalionsofaverysmallspeciesofformica,notmorethanone-sixteenthofaninchinlength。Itsoonbecameobviousthattheywereunderregulardiscipline,andevenattemptingtocarryouttheskilfulplansandstratagemsofsomeeminentleader。Ourhandsandneckswerethefirstobjectsofattack。Largebodiesoftheselittlepestsweremassedinsilenceroundthepointtobeassaulted。Wecouldhearthesharpshrillwordofcommandtwoorthreetimesrepeated,thoughuntilthenwehadnotbelievedinthevocalpowerofanant;theinstantafterwefeltthestorminghostsrangeoverheadandneck,bitingthetenderskin,clingingwithadeath-griptothehair,andpartingwiththeirjawsratherthanquittheirhold。Onourlyingdownagaininthehopeoftheirhavingbeendrivenoff,nosoonerwasthelightout,andallstill,thanthemanoeuvrewasrepeated。Clearandaudibleorderswereissued,andtheassaultrenewed。ItwasashardtosleepinthathutasinthetrenchesbeforeSebastopol。Thewhiteant,beingavegetablefeeder,devoursarticlesofvegetableoriginonly,andleather,which,bytanning,isimbuedwithavegetableflavour。\"Amanmayberichto-dayandpoorto-morrow,fromtheravagesofwhiteants,\"saidaPortuguesemerchant。\"Ifhegetssick,andunabletolookafterhisgoods,hisslavesneglectthem,andtheyaresoondestroyedbytheseinsects。”Thereddishant,inthewestcalleddrivers,crossedourpathdaily,insolidcolumnsaninchwide,andneverdidthepugnacityofeithermanorbeastexceedtheirs。Itisasufficientcauseofwarifyouonlyapproachthem,evenbyaccident。Someturnoutoftheranksandstandwithopenmandibles,or,chargingwithextendedjaws,bitewithsavageferocity。Whenhunting,welightedamongthemtoooften;
whilewewereintentonthegame,andwithoutathoughtofants,theyquietlycoveredusfromheadtofoot,thenallbegantobiteatthesameinstant;seizingapieceoftheskinwiththeirpowerfulpincers,theytwistedthemselvesroundwithit,asifdeterminedtotearitout。Theirbitesaresoterriblysharpthatthebravestmustrun,andthenstriptopickoffthosethatstillclingwiththeirhookedjaws,aswithsteelforceps。Thiskindaboundsindampplaces,andisusuallymetwithonthebanksofstreams。WehavenotheardoftheiractuallykillinganyanimalexceptthePython,andthatonlywhengorgedandquitelethargic,buttheysoonclearawayanydeadanimalmatter;thisappearstobetheirprincipalfood,andtheiruseintheeconomyofnatureisclearlyinthescavengerline。
WestartedfromtheSinjereonthe12thofJune,ourmencarryingwiththembundlesofhippopotamusmeatforsale,andforfutureuse。
WerestedforbreakfastoppositetheKakololedyke,whichconfinesthechannel,westoftheManyereremountain。Aroguemonkey,thelargestbyfarthatweeversaw,andveryfatandtame,walkedoffleisurelyfromagardenasweapproached。Themonkeyisasacredanimalinthisregion,andisnevermolestedorkilled,becausethepeoplebelievedevoutlythatthesoulsoftheirancestorsnowoccupythesedegradedforms,andanticipatethattheythemselvesmust,soonerorlater,betransformedinlikemanner;afutureascheerlessfortheblackasthespirit-rapper\'sheavenisforthewhites。Thegardensareseparatedfromeachotherbyasinglerowofsmallstones,afewhandfulsofgrass,oraslightfurrowmadebythehoe。
Someareenclosedbyareedfenceoftheflimsiestconstruction,yetsufficienttokeepouttheeverwaryhippopotamus,whodreadsatrap。
Hisextremecautionistakenadvantageofbythewomen,whohang,asaminiaturetrap-beam,akigeliafruitwithabitofstickintheend。Thisprotectsthemaize,ofwhichheisexcessivelyfond。
Thequantityofhippopotamusmeateatenbyourmenmadesomeofthemill,andourmarcheswerenecessarilyshort。Afterthreehours\'
travelonthe13th,wespenttheremainderofthedayatthevillageofChasiribera,onarivuletflowingthroughabeautifulvalleytothenorth,whichisboundedbymagnificentmountain-ranges。Pinkwe,orMbingwe,otherwiseMoeu,formsthesouth-easternangleoftherange。Onthe16thJunewewereattheflourishingvillageofSenga,undertheheadmanManyame,whichliesatthefootofthemountMotemwa。Nearlyallthemountainsinthiscountryarecoveredwithopenforestandgrass,incolour,accordingtotheseason,greenoryellow。Manyarebetween2000and3000feethigh,withtheskylinefringedwithtrees;therocksshowjustsufficientlyforonetoobservetheirstratification,ortheirgraniticform,andthoughnotcoveredwithdensemassesofclimbingplants,likethoseinmoistereasternclimates,thereisstilltheideaconveyedthatmostofthesteepsidesarefertile,andnonegivetheimpressionofthatbarrennesswhich,innorthernmountains,suggeststheideathatthebonesoftheworldarestickingthroughitsskin。
ThevillagersreportedthatwewereonthefootstepsofaPortuguesehalf-caste,who,atSenga,latelytriedtopurchaseivory,but,inconsequenceofhishavingmurderedachiefnearZumboandtwentyofhismen,thepeopledeclinedtotradewithhim。Hethreatenedtotaketheivorybyforce,iftheywouldnotsellit;butthatsamenighttheivoryandthewomenwerespiritedoutofthevillage,andonlyalargebodyofarmedmenremained。Thetrader,fearingthathemightcomeoffsecondbestifitcametoblows,immediatelydeparted。
Chikwanitsela,orSekuanangila,istheparamountchiefofsomefiftymilesofthenorthernbankoftheZambesiinthislocality。Helivesontheopposite,orsouthernside,andtherehisterritoryisstillmoreextensive。WesenthimapresentfromSenga,andwereinformedbyamessengernextmorningthathehadacoughandcouldnotcomeovertoseeus。\"Andhashispresentacoughtoo,\"remarkedoneofourparty,\"thatitdoesnotcometous?Isthisthewayyourchieftreatsstrangers,receivestheirpresent,andsendsthemnofoodinreturn?\"OurmenthoughtChikwanitselaanuncommonlystingyfellow;
but,asitwaspossiblethatsomeofthemmightyetwishtoreturnthisway,theydidnotliketoscoldhimmorethanthis,whichwassufficientlytothepoint。
MenandwomenwerebusilyengagedinpreparingthegroundfortheNovemberplanting。Largegamewasabundant;herdsofelephantsandbuffaloescamedowntotheriverinthenight,butwerealongwayoffbydaylight。Theysoonadoptthishabitinplaceswheretheyarehunted。
Theplainswetraveloverareconstantlyvaryinginbreadth,accordingasthefurrowedandwoodedhillsapproachorrecedefromtheriver。OnthesouthernsideweseethehillBungwe,andthelong,level,woodedridgeNyangombe,thefirstofaseriesbendingfromtheS。E。totheN。W。pasttheZambesi。Weshotanoldpallahonthe16th,andfoundthatthepooranimalhadbeenvisitedwithmorethantheusualshareofanimalafflictions。Hewasstone-blindinbotheyes,hadseveraltumours,andabrokenleg,whichshowednosymptomsofeverhavingbeguntoheal。Wildanimalssometimessufferagreatdealfromdisease,andwearilydragonamiserableexistencebeforerelievedofitbysomeravenousbeast。Oncewedroveoffamanelesslionandlionessfromadeadbuffalo,whichhadbeeninthelaststageofadecline。Theyhadwatchedhimstaggeringtotherivertoquenchhisthirst,andsprangonhimashewascrawlingupthebank。Onehadcaughthimbythethroat,andtheotherbyhishighprojectingbackbone,whichwasbrokenbythelion\'spowerfulfangs。Thestruggle,ifany,musthavebeenshort。Theyhadonlyeatentheintestineswhenwefrightenedthemoff。Itiscuriousthatthisisthepartthatwildanimalsalwaysbeginwith,andthatitisalsothefirstchoiceofourmen。Wereitnotawisearrangementthatonlythestrongestmalesshouldcontinuethebreed,onecouldhardlyhelppityingthesolitarybuffaloexpelledfromtheherdforsomephysicalblemish,oronaccountoftheweaknessofapproachingoldage。Banishedfromfemalesociety,henaturallybecomesmoroseandsavage;thenecessarywatchfulnessagainstenemiesisnowneversharedbyothers;disgusted,hepassesintoastateofchronicwarwithallwhoenjoylife,andthesoonerafterhisexpulsionthathefillsthelion\'sorthewild-dog\'smaw,thebetterforhimselfandforthepeaceofthecountry。