eginning independent existence by catching fish. Fish is the
principal food of both small and large, and they are much assisted
in catching them by their broad, scaly tails. Sometimes an alligator,
viewing a man in the water from the opposite bank, rushes across the
stream with wonderful agility, as is seen by the high ripple he makes
on the surface caused by his rapid motion at the bottom; but in general
they act by stealth, sinking underneath as soon as they see man. They
seldom leave the water to catch prey, but often come out by day to enjoy
the pleasure of basking in the sun. In walking along the bank of the
Zouga once, a small one, about three feet long, made a dash at my feet,
and caused me to rush quickly in another direction; but this is unusual,
for I never heard of a similar case. A wounded leche, chased into any
of the lagoons in the Barotse valley, or a man or dog going in for the
purpose of bringing out a dead one, is almost sure to be seized, though
the alligators may not appear on the surface. When employed in looking
for food they keep out of sight; they fish chiefly by night. When
eating, they make a loud, champing noise, which when once heard is never
forgotten.

The young, which had come out of the nests where we spent the night, did
not appear wary; they were about ten inches long, with yellow eyes, and
pupil merely a perpendicular slit. They were all marked with transverse
slips of pale green and brown, half an inch broad. When speared,
they bit the weapon savagely, though their teeth were but partially
developed, uttering at the same time a sharp bark like that of a whelp
when it first begins to use its voice. I could not ascertain whether
the dam devours them, as reported, or whether the ichneumon has the same
reputation here as in Egypt. Probably the Barotse and Bayeiye would not
look upon it as a benefactor; they prefer to eat the eggs themselves,
and be their own ichneumons. The white of the egg does not coagulate,
but the yolk does, and this is the only part eaten.

As the population increases, the alligators will decrease, for their
nests will be oftener found; the principal check on their inordinate
multiplication seems to be man. They are more savage and commit more
mischief in the Leeambye than in any other river. After dancing long in
the moonlight nights, young men run down to the water to wash off the
dust and cool themselves before going to bed, and are thus often carried
away. One w