Thecookingisusuallydoneinthenatives’ownstyle，and，astheycarefullywashthedishes，pots，andthehandsbeforehandlingfood，itisbynomeansdespicableSometimesalterationsaremadeatmysuggestion，andthentheybelievethattheycancookinthoroughwhiteman’sfashionThecookalwayscomesinforsomethingleftinthepot，soallareeagertoobtaintheoffice。
　　Itaughtseveralofthemtowashmyshirts，andtheydiditwell，thoughtheirteacherhadneverbeentaughtthatworkhimself。
　　Frequentchangesoflinenandsunningofmyblanketkeptmemorecomfortablethanmighthavebeenanticipated，andIfeelcertainthatthelessonsofcleanlinessrigidlyinstilledbymymotherinchildhoodhelpedtomaintainthatrespectwhichthesepeopleentertainforEuropeanwaysItisquestionableifadescenttobarbarouswayseverelevatesamanintheeyesofsavages。
　　Whenquitebeyondtheinhabitedparts，wefoundthecountryaboundinginanimallifeofeveryformThereareupwardofthirtyspeciesofbirdsontheriveritselfHundredsofthe`Ibisreligiosa’comedowntheLeeambyewiththerisingwater，astheydoontheNile；thenlargewhitepelicans，inflocksofthreehundredatatime，followingeachotherinlongextendingline，risingandfallingastheyflysoregularlyallalongastolooklikeanextendedcoilofbirds；cloudsofablackshell-eatingbird，calledlinongolo`Anastomuslamelligerus’；
　　alsoplovers，snipes，curlews，andheronswithoutnumber。
　　Thereare，besidesthemorecommon，somestrangevarieties。
　　Theprettywhite`ardetta’isseeninflocks，settlingonthebacksoflargeherdsofbuffaloes，andfollowingthemonthewingwhentheyrun；whilethekala`Textorerythrorhynchus’isabetterhorseman，foritsitsonthewitherswhentheanimalisatfullspeed。
　　Thenthosestrangebirds，thescissor-bills，withsnow-whitebreast，jet-blackcoat，andredbeak，sittingbydayonthesand-banks，theverypictureofcomfortandreposeTheirnestsareonlylittlehollowsmadeonthesesamesand-banks，withoutanyattemptofconcealment；
　　theywatchthemclosely，andfrightenawaythemarabouandcrowsfromtheireggsbyfeignedattacksattheirheadsWhenmanapproachestheirnests，theychangetheirtactics，and，likethelapwingandostrich，letonewingdropandmakeoneleglimp，asiflameTheuppermandiblebeingsomuchshorterthanthelower，theyoungaremorehelplessthanthestorkinthefablewiththeflatdishes，andmusthaveeverythingconveyedintothemouthbytheparentstilltheyareabletoprovideforthemselvesThelowermandible，asthinasapaper-knife，isputintothewaterwhilethebirdskimsalongthesurface，andscoopsupanylittleinsectsitmeetsIthasgreatlengthofwing，andcancontinueitsflightwithperfectease，thewingsacting，thoughkeptabovethelevelofthebodyThewonderis，howthisplowingofthesurfaceofthewatercanbesowellperformedastoyieldameal，foritisusuallydoneinthedark。
　　Likemostaquaticfeeders，theyworkbynight，wheninsectsandfishesrisetothesurfaceTheyhavegreataffectionfortheiryoung，itsamountbeingincreasedinproportiontothehelplessnessoftheoffspring。
　　Therearealsonumbersofspoonbills，nearlywhiteinplumage；
　　thebeautiful，statelyflamingo；theNumidiancrane，ordemoiselle，someofwhich，tamedatGovernmentHouse，CapeTown，struckeveryoneasmostgracefulornamentstoanoblemansion，astheyperchedonitspillars。
　　Therearetwocranesbesidesonelightblue，theotheralsolightblue，butwithawhiteneck；andgulls`Procellaria’ofdifferentsizesabound。
　　Oneprettylittlewader，anavoset，appearsasifstandingonstilts，itslegsaresolong；anditsbillseemsbentthewrongway，orupward。
　　Itisconstantlyseenwadingintheshallows，digginguplittleslipperyinsects，thepeculiarformofthebillenablingittoworkthemeasilyoutofthesandWhenfeeding，itputsitsheadunderthewatertoseizetheinsectatthebottom，thenliftsitupquickly，makingarapidgobbling，asifswallowingawrigglingworm。
　　The`ParraAfricana’runsaboutonthesurface，asifwalkingonwater，catchinginsectsIttoohaslong，thinlegs，andextremelylongtoes，forthepurposeofenablingittostandonthefloatinglotus-leavesandotheraquaticplantsWhenitstandsonalotus-leaffiveinchesindiameter，thespreadofthetoes，actingontheprincipleofsnow-shoes，occupiesallthesurface，anditneversinks，thoughitobtainsalivelihood，notbyswimmingorflying，butbywalkingonthewater。
　　Water-birds，whosepreyorfoodrequiresacertainaimoractioninonedirection，havebillsquitestraightinform，astheheronandsnipe；
　　whilethosewhichareintendedtocomeincontactwithhardsubstances，asbreakingshells，havethebillsgentlycurved，inorderthattheshockmaynotbecommunicatedtothebrain。
　　TheBarotsevalleycontainsgreatnumbersoflargeblackgeese。*
　　Theymaybeseeneverywherewalkingslowlyabout，feeding。
　　Theyhaveastrongblackspurontheshoulder，likethearmedplover，andasstrongasthatontheheelofacock，butareneverseentousethem，exceptindefenseoftheiryoungTheychooseant-hillsfortheirnests，andinthetimeoflayingtheBarotseconsumevastquantitiesoftheireggs。
　　Therearealsotwovarietiesofgeese，ofsomewhatsmallersize，butbettereatingOneofthese，theEgyptiangoose，orVulpanser，cannotrisefromthewater，andduringthefloodsoftherivergreatnumbersarekilledbybeingpursuedincanoesThethirdisfurnishedwithapeculiarknobonthebeakThese，withmyriadsofducksofthreevarieties，aboundeverywhereontheLeeambye。
　　Ononeoccasionthecanoenearedabankonwhichalargeflockwassitting。
　　Twoshotsfurnishedourwholepartywithasupper，forwepickedupseventeenducksandagooseNowondertheBarotsealwayslookbacktothisfruitfulvalleyastheIsraelitesdidtotheflesh-potsofEgypt。
　　Thepoorestpersonsaresowellsuppliedwithfoodfromtheirgardens，fruitsfromtheforesttrees，andfishfromtheriver，thattheirchildren，whentakenintotheserviceoftheMakololo，wheretheyhaveonlyonelargemealaday，becomequiteemaciated，andpineforareturntotheirparents。
　　*`Anserleucagaster’and`melanogaster’。
　　Partofourcompanymarchedalongthebankswiththeoxen，andpartwentinthecanoes，butourpacewasregulatedbythespeedofthemenonshore。
　　Theircoursewasratherdifficult，onaccountofthenumbersofdepartingandre-enteringbranchesoftheLeeambye，whichtheyhadtoavoidorwaitattillweferriedthemoverThenumberofalligatorsisprodigious，andinthisrivertheyaremoresavagethaninsomeothers。
　　ManychildrenarecarriedoffannuallyatSeshekeandothertowns；
　　for，notwithstandingthedanger，whentheygodownforwatertheyalmostalwaysmustplayawhileThisreptileissaidbythenativestostrikethevictimwithitstail，thendraghiminanddrownhim。
　　Whenlyinginthewaterwatchingforprey，thebodyneverappears。
　　Manycalvesarelostalso，anditisseldomthatanumberofcowscanswimoveratSeshekewithoutsomelossInevercouldavoidshudderingonseeingmymenswimmingacrossthesebranches，afteroneofthemhadbeencaughtbythethighandtakenbelowHe，however，retained，asnearlyalloftheminthemosttryingcircumstancesdo，hisfullpresenceofmind，and，havingasmall，square，ragged-edgedjavelinwithhim，whendraggedtothebottomgavethealligatorastabbehindtheshoulderThealligator，writhinginpain，lefthim，andhecameoutwiththedeepmarksofthereptile’steethonhisthigh。
　　Herethepeoplehavenoantipathytopersonswhohavemetwithsuchanadventure，but，intheBamangwatoandBakwaintribes，ifamaniseitherbittenorevenhashadwatersplashedoverhimbythereptile’stail，heisexpelledhistribeWhenontheZougawesawoneoftheBamangwatolivingamongtheBayeiye，whohadthemisfortunetohavebeenbittenanddrivenoutofhistribeinconsequence。
　　FearingthatIwouldregardhimwiththesamedisgustwhichhiscountrymenprofesstofeel，hewouldnottellmethecauseofhisexile，buttheBayeiyeinformedmeofit，andthescarsoftheteethwerevisibleonhisthighIftheBakwainshappenedtogonearanalligatortheywouldspitontheground，andindicateitspresencebysaying“Boleokibo““Thereissin“Theyimaginethemeresightofitwouldgiveinflammationoftheeyes；andthoughtheyeatthezebrawithouthesitation，yetifonebitesamanheisexpelledthetribe，andobligedtotakehiswifeandfamilyawaytotheKalahari。
　　Thesecuriousrelicsoftheanimal-worshipofformertimesscarcelyexistamongtheMakololoSebituaneactedontheprinciple，“Whateverisfoodformenisfoodforme；“sonomanishereconsidereduncleanTheBarotseappearinclinedtopraytoalligatorsandeatthemtoo，forwhenIwoundedawater-antelope，calledmochose，ittooktothewater；whenneartheothersideoftheriveranalligatorappearedatitstail，andthenbothsanktogether。
　　Mashauana，whowasnearertoitthanI，toldmethat，“thoughhehadcalledtoittolethismeatalone，itrefusedtolisten。”
　　OnedaywepassedsomeBarotseladswhohadspearedanalligator，andwerewaitinginexpectationofitsfloatingsoonafter。
　　Themeathasastrongmuskyodor，notatallinvitingforanyoneexcepttheveryhungry。
　　WhenwehadgonethirtyorfortymilesaboveLibontawesentelevenofourcaptivestothewest，tothechiefcalledMakoma，withanexplanatorymessageThiscausedsomedelay；butaswewereloadedwithpresentsoffoodfromtheMakololo，andthewildanimalswereinenormousherds，wefaredsumptuouslyItwasgrievous，however，toshootthelovelycreatures，theyweresotameWithbutlittleskillinstalking，onecouldeasilygetwithinfiftyorsixtyyardsofthem。
　　ThereIlay，lookingatthegracefulformsandmotionsofbeautifulpokus，*
　　leches，andotherantelopes，oftentillmymen，wonderingwhatwasthematter，cameuptosee，andfrightenedthemawayIfwehadbeenstarving，IcouldhaveslaughteredthemwithaslittlehesitationasIshouldcutoffapatient’sleg；butIfeltadoubt，andtheantelopesgotthebenefitofit。
　　Havetheyaguardianspiritoverthem？Ihaverepeatedlyobserved，whenIapproachedaherdlyingbeyondanant-hillwithatreeonit，andviewedthemwiththegreatestcaution，theyverysoonshowedsymptomsofuneasinessTheydidnotsniffdangerinthewind，forIwastoleewardofthem；butthealmostinvariableapprehensionofdangerwhicharose，whileunconsciousofthedirectioninwhichitlay，mademewonderwhethereachhadwhattheancientphysiciansthoughtweallpossessed，anarchon，orpresidingspirit。
　　*Iproposetonamethisnewspecies`AntilopeVardonii’，aftertheAfricantraveler，MajorVardon。
　　Ifwecouldascertainthemostfatalspotinananimal，wecoulddispatchitwiththeleastpossibleamountofsuffering；butasthatisprobablytheparttowhichthegreatestamountofnervousinfluenceisdirectedatthemomentofreceivingtheshot，ifwecannotbesureoftheheartorbrain，wearenevercertainofspeedydeath。
　　Antelopes，formedforapartiallyamphibiousexistence，andotheranimalsofthatclass，aremuchmoretenaciousoflifethanthosewhicharepurelyterrestrialMostantelopes，whenindistressorpursued，makeforthewaterIfhunted，theyalwaysdo。
　　Alecheshotrightthroughthebody，andnolimb-bonebroken，isalmostsuretogetaway，whileazebra，withawoundofnogreaterseverity，willprobablydropdowndeadIhaveseenarhinoceros，whilestandingapparentlychewingthecud，dropdowndeadfromashotinthestomach，whileothersshotthroughonelungandthestomachgooffasiflittlehurt。
　　Butifoneshouldcrawlupsilentlytowithintwentyyardseitherofthewhiteorblackrhinoceros，throwingupapinchofdusteverynowandthen，tofindoutthattheanxietytokeepthebodyconcealedbythebusheshasnotledhimtothewindwardside，thensitdown，resttheelbowontheknees，andaim，slantingalittleupward，atadarkspotbehindtheshoulders，itfallsstonedead。
　　Toshowthatashockonthepartofthesystemtowhichmuchnervousforceisatthetimedirectedwilldestroylife，itmaybementionedthataneland，whenhunted，canbedispatchedbyawoundwhichdoeslittlemorethaninjurethemuscularsystem；itswholenervousforceisthenimbuingtheorgansofmotion；andagiraffe，whenpressedhardbyagoodhorseonlytwoorthreehundredyards，hasbeenknowntodropdowndead，withoutanywoundbeinginflictedatallAfullgallopbyanelandorgiraffequitedissipatesitspower，andthehunters，awareofthis，alwaystrytopressthematoncetoit，knowingthattheyhavebutashortspacetorunbeforetheanimalsareintheirpower。
　　Indoingthis，theoldsportsmenarecarefulnottogotooclosetothegiraffe’stail，forthisanimalcanswinghishindfootroundinawaywhichwouldleavelittletochoosebetweenakickwithitandaclapfromthearmofawindmill。