rong black spur on the shoulder, like the armed plover, and as strong
as that on the heel of a cock, but are never seen to use them, except
in defense of their young. They choose ant-hills for their nests, and
in the time of laying the Barotse consume vast quantities of their eggs.
There are also two varieties of geese, of somewhat smaller size, but
better eating. One of these, the Egyptian goose, or Vulpanser, can not
rise from the water, and during the floods of the river great numbers
are killed by being pursued in canoes. The third is furnished with
a peculiar knob on the beak. These, with myriads of ducks of three
varieties, abound every where on the Leeambye. On one occasion the canoe
neared a bank on which a large flock was sitting. Two shots furnished
our whole party with a supper, for we picked up seventeen ducks and a
goose. No wonder the Barotse always look back to this fruitful valley as
the Israelites did to the flesh-pots of Egypt. The poorest persons are
so well supplied with food from their gardens, fruits from the forest
trees, and fish from the river, that their children, when taken into
the service of the Makololo, where they have only one large meal a day,
become quite emaciated, and pine for a return to their parents.

* 'Anser leucagaster' and 'melanogaster'.

Part of our company marched along the banks with the oxen, and part went
in the canoes, but our pace was regulated by the speed of the men on
shore. Their course was rather difficult, on account of the numbers of
departing and re-entering branches of the Leeambye, which they had to
avoid or wait at till we ferried them over. The number of alligators is
prodigious, and in this river they are more savage than in some others.
Many children are carried off annually at Sesheke and other towns; for,
notwithstanding the danger, when they go down for water they almost
always must play a while. This reptile is said by the natives to strike
the victim with its tail, then drag him in and drown him. When lying
in the water watching for prey, the body never appears. Many calves
are lost also, and it is seldom that a number of cows can swim over at
Sesheke without some loss. I never could avoid shuddering on seeing my
men swimming across these branches, after one of them had been caught by
the thigh and taken below. He, however, retained, as nearly all of them
in the most trying circumstances do, his full presence of mind, and,
having a small, square, r