in but small quantities.

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 M