a pellicle of green copper ore.  Attempting to proceed down the river next day, we were detained some hours by a strong east wind raising waves so large as to threaten to swamp the canoes.  The river here is very large and deep, and contains two considerable islands, which from either bank seem to be joined to the opposite shore.  While waiting for the wind to moderate, my friends related the traditions of these islands, and, as usual, praised the wisdom of Sebituane in balking the Batoka, who formerly enticed wandering tribes to them, and starved them, by compelling the chiefs to remain by his side till all his cattle and people were ferried over.  The Barotse believe that at certain parts of the river a tremendous monster lies hid, and that it will catch a canoe, and hold it fast and motionless, in spite of the utmost exertions of the paddlers.  While near Nameta they even objected to pass a spot supposed to be haunted, and proceeded along a branch instead of the main stream.  They believe that some of them possess a knowledge of the proper prayer to lay the monster.  It is strange to find fables similar to those of the more northern nations even in the heart of Africa.  Can they be the vestiges of traditions of animals which no longer exist?  The fossil bones which lie in the calcareous tufa of this region will yet, we hope, reveal the ancient fauna.

Having descended about ten miles, we came to the island of Nampene, at the beginning of the rapids, where we were obliged to leave the canoes and proceed along the banks on foot.  The next evening we slept opposite the island of Chondo, and, then crossing the Lekone or Lekwine, early the following morning were at the island of Sekote, called Kalai.  This Sekote was the last of the Batoka chiefs whom Sebituane rooted out.  The island is surrounded by a rocky shore and deep channels, through which the river rushes with great force.  Sekote, feeling secure in his island home, ventured to ferry over the Matebele enemies of Sebituane.  When they had retired, Sebituane made one of those rapid marches which he always adopted in every enterprise.  He came down the Leeambye from Naliele, sailing by day along the banks, and during the night in the middle of the stream, to avoid the hippopotami.  When he reached Kalai, Sekote took advantage of the larger canoes they employ in the rapids, and fled during the night to the opposite bank.  Most of his people were slain or taken captive, and the island has ever since been under the Makololo.  It is large enough to contain a considerable town.  On the northern side I found the kotla of the elder Sekote, garnished with numbers of human skulls mounted on poles:  a large heap of the crania of hippopotami, the tusks untouched except by time, stood on one side.  At a short distance, under some trees, we saw the grave of Sekote, ornamented with seventy large elephants’ tusks planted round it with the points turned inward, and there were thirty more placed over the resting-places of his relatives.