He Seemed To Be Afraid Of Our Incantations,
But Was Always Merry And Jocular.
6TH. Soon after starting we crossed a branch of the Lokalueje
by means of a canoe, and in the afternoon passed over the main stream
by a like conveyance.
The former, as is the case with all branches of rivers
in this country, is called nyuana Kalueje (child of the Kalueje).
Hippopotami exist in the Lokalueje, so it may be inferred to be perennial,
as the inhabitants asserted. We can not judge of the size of the stream
from what we now saw. It had about forty yards of deep, fast-flowing water,
but probably not more than half that amount in the dry season.
Besides these, we crossed numerous feeders in our N.N.W. course,
and, there being no canoes, got frequently wet in the course of the day.
The oxen in some places had their heads only above water, and the stream,
flowing over their backs, wetted our blankets, which we used as saddles.
The arm-pit was the only safe spot for carrying the watch,
for there it was preserved from rains above and waters below.
The men on foot crossed these gullies holding up their burdens
at arms' length.
The Lokalueje winds from northeast to southwest into the Leeba.
The country adjacent to its banks is extremely fine and fertile,
with here and there patches of forest or clumps of magnificent trees.
The villagers through whose gardens we passed continue to sow and reap
all the year round. The grains, as maize, lotsa (`Pennisetum typhoideum'),
lokesh or millet, are to be seen at all stages of their growth -
some just ripe, while at this time the Makololo crops are not half grown.
My companions, who have a good idea of the different qualities of soils,
expressed the greatest admiration of the agricultural capabilities of
the whole of Londa, and here they were loud in their praises of the pasturage.
They have an accurate idea of the varieties of grasses best adapted
for different kinds of stock, and lament because here there are no cows
to feed off the rich green crop, which at this time imparts special beauty
to the landscape.
Great numbers of the omnivorous feeding fish, `Glanis siluris', or mosala,
spread themselves over the flooded plains, and, as the waters retire,
try to find their way back again to the rivers. The Balonda make
earthen dikes and hedges across the outlets of the retreating waters,
leaving only small spaces through which the chief part of the water flows.
In these open spaces they plant creels, similar in shape to our own,
into which the fish can enter, but can not return. They secure
large quantities of fish in this way, which, when smoke-dried,
make a good relish for their otherwise insipid food. They use also
a weir of mats made of reeds sewed together, with but half an inch
between each. Open spaces are left for the insertion of the creels as before.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 254 of 572
Words from 135728 to 136232
of 306638
