Elbow-elbow, is given it from a resemblance its extended fins are supposed to bear to a man's elbows stuck out from his body.It often performs the little trick of cocking its fins in the stomach of the Ngwesi, and, the elbows piercing its enemy's sides, he is frequently found floating dead.The fin bones seem to have an acrid secretion on them, for the wound they make is excessively painful.The Konokono barks distinctly when landed with the hook.Our canoe-men invariably picked up every dead fish they saw on the surface of the water, however far gone.An unfragrant odour was no objection; the fish was boiled and eaten, and the water drunk as soup.It is a curious fact that many of the Africans keep fish as we do woodcocks, until they are extremely offensive, before they consider them fit to eat.Our paddlers informed us on our way down that iguanas lay their eggs in July and August, and crocodiles in September.The eggs remain a month or two under the sand where they are laid, and the young come out when the rains have fairly commenced.The canoe-men were quite positive that crocodiles frequently stun men by striking them with their tails, and then squat on them till they are drowned.
We once caught a young crocodile, which certainly did use its tail to inflict sharp blows, and led us to conclude that the native opinion is correct.They believed also that, if a person shuts the beast's eyes, it lets go its hold.Crocodiles have been known to unite and kill a large one of their own species and eat it.Some fishermen throw the bones of the fish into the river but in most of the fishing villages there are heaps of them in various places.The villagers can walk over them without getting them into their feet; but the Makololo, from having softer soles, are unable to do so.The explanation offered was, that the fishermen have a medicine against fish-bones, but that they will not reveal it to the Makololo.
We spent a night on Mparira island, which is four miles long and about one mile broad.Mokompa, the headman, was away hunting elephants.His wife sent for him on our arrival, and he returned next morning before we left.Taking advantage of the long-continued drought, he had set fire to the reeds between the Chobe and Zambesi, in such a manner as to drive the game out at one corner, where his men laid in wait with their spears.He had killed five elephants and three buffaloes, wounding several others which escaped.
On our land party coming up, we were told that the oxen were bitten by the tsetse:they could see a great difference in their looks.
One was already eaten, and they now wished to slaughter another.Athird fell into a buffalo-pit next day, so our stock was soon reduced.
The Batoka chief, Moshobotwane, again treated us with his usual hospitality, giving us an ox, some meal, and milk.We took another view of the grand Mosi-oa-tunya, and planted a quantity of seeds in the garden on the island; but, as no one will renew the hedge, the hippopotami will, doubtless, soon destroy what we planted.
Mashotlane assisted us.So much power was allowed to this under-chief, that he appeared as if he had cast off the authority of Sekeletu altogether.He did not show much courtesy to his messengers; instead of giving them food, as is customary, he took the meat out of a pot in their presence, and handed it to his own followers.This may have been because Sekeletu's men bore an order to him to remove to Linyanti.He had not only insulted Baldwin, but had also driven away the Griqua traders; but this may all end in nothing.Some of the natives here, and at Sesheke, know a few of the low tricks of more civilized traders.A pot of milk was brought to us one evening, which was more indebted to the Zambesi than to any cow.Baskets of fine-looking white meal, elsewhere, had occasionally the lower half filled with bran.Eggs are always a perilous investment.The native idea of a good egg differs as widely from our own as is possible on such a trifling subject.An egg is eaten here with apparent relish, though an embryo chick be inside.
We left Mosi-oa-tunya on the 27th, and slept close to the village of Bakwini.It is built on a ridge of loose red soil, which produces great crops of mapira and ground-nuts; many magnificent mosibe-trees stand near the village.Machimisi, the headman of the village, possesses a herd of cattle and a large heart; he kept us company for a couple of days to guide us on our way.
We had heard a good deal of a stronghold some miles below the Falls, called Kalunda.Our return path was much nearer the Zambesi than that of our ascent,--in fact, as near as the rough country would allow,--but we left it twice before we reached Sinamane's, in order to see Kalunda and a Fall called Moomba, or Moamba.The Makololo had once dispossessed the Batoka of Kalunda, but we could not see the fissure, or whatever it is, that rendered it a place of security, as it was on the southern bank.The crack of the Great Falls was here continued:the rocks are the same as further up, but perhaps less weather-worn--and now partially stratified in great thick masses.
The country through which we were travelling was covered with a cindery-looking volcanic tufa, and might be called "Katakaumena."
The deion we received of the Moamba Falls seemed to promise something grand.They were said to send up "smoke" in the wet season, like Mosi-oa-tunya; but when we looked down into the cleft, in which the dark-green narrow river still rolls, we saw, about 800 or 1000 feet below us, what, after Mosi-oa-tunya, seemed two insignificant cataracts.It was evident that Pitsane, observing our delight at the Victoria Falls, wished to increase our pleasure by a second wonder.One Mosi-oa-tunya, however, is quite enough for a continent.
