for carrying burdens, for the Barotse fashion is
exactly like that of the natives of India, only the burden is fastened
near the ends of the pole, and not suspended by long cords. The bed is
made, and boxes ranged on each side of it, and then the tent pitched
over all. Four or five feet in front of my tent is placed the principal
or kotla fire, the wood for which must be collected by the man who
occupies the post of herald, and takes as his perquisite the heads of
all the oxen slaughtered, and of all the game too. Each person knows the
station he is to occupy, in reference to the post of honor at the fire
in front of the door of the tent. The two Makololo occupy my right and
left, both in eating and sleeping, as long as the journey lasts. But
Mashauana, my head boatman, makes his bed at the door of the tent as
soon as I retire. The rest, divided into small companies according to
their tribes, make sheds all round the fire, leaving a horseshoe-shaped
space in front sufficient for the cattle to stand in. The fire gives
confidence to the oxen, so the men are always careful to keep them in
sight of it. The sheds are formed by planting two stout forked poles in
an inclined direction, and placing another over these in a horizontal
position. A number of branches are then stuck in the ground in the
direction to which the poles are inclined, the twigs drawn down to the
horizontal pole and tied with strips of bark. Long grass is then laid
over the branches in sufficient quantity to draw off the rain, and we
have sheds open to the fire in front, but secure from beasts behind.
In less than an hour we were usually all under cover. We never lacked
abundance of grass during the whole journey. It is a picturesque sight
at night, when the clear bright moon of these climates glances on the
sleeping forms around, to look out upon the attitudes of profound repose
both men and beasts assume. There being no danger from wild animals in
such a night, the fires are allowed almost to go out; and as there is
no fear of hungry dogs coming over sleepers and devouring the food, or
quietly eating up the poor fellows' blankets, which at best were but
greasy skins, which sometimes happened in the villages, the picture was
one of perfect peace.

The cooking is usually done in the natives' own style, and, as they
carefully wash the dishes, pots, and the hands before handling food,
it is by no means despicable. Sometimes alterations are made at my
suggest