As we passed along, the people continued to supply us with food in great abundance.  They had by some means or other got a knowledge that I carried medicine, and, somewhat to the disgust of my men, who wished to keep it all to themselves, brought their sick children for cure.  Some of them I found had hooping-cough, which is one of the few epidemics that range through this country.

In passing through the woods I for the first time heard the bird called Mokwa reza, or “Son-in-law of God” (Micropogon sulphuratus?), utter its cry, which is supposed by the natives to be “pula, pula” (rain, rain).  It is said to do this only before heavy falls of rain.  It may be a cuckoo, for it is said to throw out the eggs of the white-backed Senegal crow, and lay its own instead.  This, combined with the cry for rain, causes the bird to be regarded with favor.  The crow, on the other hand, has a bad repute, and, when rain is withheld, its nest is sought for and destroyed, in order to dissolve the charm by which it is supposed to seal up the windows of heaven.  All the other birds now join in full chorus in the mornings, and two of them, at least, have fine loud notes.

Chapter 28.

Beautiful Valley—­Buffalo—­My young Men kill two Elephants—­The Hunt—­Mode of measuring Height of live Elephants—­Wild Animals smaller here than in the South, though their Food is more abundant—­The Elephant a dainty Feeder—­Semalembue—­His Presents—­Joy in prospect of living in Peace—­Trade—­His People’s way of wearing their Hair—­Their Mode of Salutation—­Old Encampment—­Sebituane’s former Residence—­Ford of Kafue—­Hippopotami—­Hills and Villages—­Geological Formation—­ Prodigious Quantities of large Game—­Their Tameness—­Rains—­Less Sickness than in the Journey to Loanda—­Reason—­Charge from an Elephant—­Vast Amount of animal Life on the Zambesi—­Water of River discolored—­An Island with Buffaloes and Men on it—­Native Devices for killing Game—­Tsetse now in Country—­Agricultural Industry—­An Albino murdered by his Mother—­“Guilty of Tlolo”—­Women who make their Mouths “like those of Ducks”—­First Symptom of the Slave-trade on this side—­Selole’s Hostility—­An armed Party hoaxed—­An Italian Marauder slain—­Elephant’s Tenacity of Life—­A Word to young Sportsmen—­ Mr. Oswell’s Adventure with an Elephant; narrow Escape—­Mburuma’s Village—­Suspicious Conduct of his People—­Guides attempt to detain us—­The Village and People of Ma Mburuma—­Character our Guides give of us.

13Th.  The country is becoming very beautiful, and furrowed by deep valleys; the underlying rocks, being igneous, have yielded fertile soil.  There is great abundance of large game.  The buffaloes select open spots, and often eminences, as standing-places through the day.  We crossed the Mbai, and found in its bed rocks of pink marble.  Some little hills near it are capped by marble of beautiful whiteness, the underlying rock being igneous.  Violent showers