e had eaten a hole in it and rendered it useless.

We traversed the extended plain on the north bank of the Leeba, and
crossed this river a little farther on at Kanyonke's village, which is
about twenty miles west of the Peri hills, our former ford. The first
stage beyond the Leeba was at the rivulet Loamba, by the village
of Chebende, nephew of Shinte; and next day we met Chebende himself
returning from the funeral of Samoana, his father. He was thin and
haggard-looking compared to what he had been before, the probable effect
of the orgies in which he had been engaged. Pitsane and Mohorisi, having
concocted the project of a Makololo village on the banks of the Leeba,
as an approach to the white man's market, spoke to Chebende, as an
influential man, on the subject, but he cautiously avoided expressing
an opinion. The idea which had sprung up in their own minds of an
establishment somewhere near the confluence of the Leeba and Leeambye,
commended itself to my judgment at the time as a geographically suitable
point for civilization and commerce. The right bank of the Leeba there
is never flooded; and from that point there is communication by means
of canoes to the country of the Kanyika, and also to Cazembe and beyond,
with but one or two large waterfalls between. There is no obstruction
down to the Barotse valley; and there is probably canoe navigation down
the Kafue or Bashukulompo River, though it is reported to contain
many cataracts. It flows through a fertile country, well peopled with
Bamasasa, who cultivate the native produce largely.

As this was the middle of winter, it may be mentioned that the
temperature of the water in the morning was 47 Deg., and that of the
air 50 Deg., which, being loaded with moisture, was very cold to the
feelings. Yet the sun was very hot by day, and the temperature in the
coolest shade from 88 Deg. to 90 Deg.; in the evenings from 76 Deg. to
78 Deg.

Before reaching the town of Shinte we passed through many large villages
of the Balobale, who have fled from the chief Kangenke. The Mambari
from Bihe come constantly to him for trade; and, as he sells his people,
great numbers of them escape to Shinte and Katema, who refuse to give
them up.

We reached our friend Shinte, and received a hearty welcome from this
friendly old man, and abundant provisions of the best he had. On hearing
the report of the journey given by my companions, and receiving a piece
of cotton cloth about two yard