Thewhiteantkeepsgenerallyoutofsight，andworksundergalleriesconstructedbynighttoscreenthemfromtheobservationofbirds。
Atsomegivensignal，however，Inevercouldascertainwhat，theyrushoutbyhundreds，andthesoundoftheirmandiblescuttinggrassintolengthsmaybeheardlikeagentlewindmurmuringthroughtheleavesofthetreesTheydragthesepiecestothedoorsoftheirabodes，andaftersomehours’toilleaveoffwork，andmanyofthebitsofgrassmaybeseencollectedaroundtheorifice。
Theycontinueoutofsightforperhapsamonth，buttheyareneveridle。
Ononeoccasion，agoodbundleofgrasswaslaiddownformybedonaspotwhichwasquitesmoothanddestituteofplants。
Theantsatoncesoundedthecalltoagoodsupplyofgrass。
Iheardthemincessantlynibblingandcarryingawayallthatnight；
andtheycontinuedallnextdaySunday，andallthatnighttoo，withunabatedenergyTheyhadthusbeenthirty-sixhoursatit，andseemedasfreshaseverInsomesituations，ifweremainedaday，theydevouredthegrassbeneathmymat，andwouldhaveeatenthattoohadwenotlaiddownmoregrassAtsomeoftheiroperationstheybeattimeinacuriousmannerHundredsofthemareengagedinbuildingalargetube，andtheywishtobeatitsmoothAtasignal，theyallgivethreeorfourenergeticbeatsontheplasterinunison。
Itproducesasoundlikethedroppingofrainoffabushwhentouched。
Theseinsectsarethechiefagentsemployedinformingafertilesoil。
Butfortheirlabors，thetropicalforests，badastheyarenowwithfallentrees，wouldbeathousandtimesworseTheywouldbeimpassableonaccountoftheheapsofdeadvegetationlyingonthesurface，andemittingworseeffluviathanthecomparativelysmallunburiedcollectionsdonow。
Whenonelooksatthewonderfuladaptationsthroughoutcreation，andthevariedoperationscarriedonwithsuchwisdomandskill，theideaofsecondcauseslooksclumsyWeareviewingthedirecthandiworkofHimwhoistheoneandonlyPowerintheuniverse；
wonderfulincounsel；inwhomwealllive，andmove，andhaveourbeing。
TheBatokaofthesepartsareverydegradedintheirappearance，andarenotlikelytoimprove，eitherphysicallyormentally，whilesomuchaddictedtosmokingthemutokwane`Cannabissativa’。
Theylikeitsnarcoticeffects，thoughtheviolentfitofcoughingwhichfollowsacoupleofpuffsofsmokeappearsdistressing，andcausesafeelingofdisgustinthespectatorThisisnotdiminishedonseeingtheusualpracticeoftakingamouthfulofwater，andsquirtingitouttogetherwiththesmoke，thenutteringastringofhalf-incoherentsentences，usuallyinself-praiseThisperniciousweedisextensivelyusedinallthetribesoftheinteriorItcausesaspeciesofphrensy，andSebituane’ssoldiers，oncominginsightoftheirenemies，satdownandsmokedit，inorderthattheymightmakeaneffectiveonslaught。
IwasunabletoprevailonSekeletuandtheyoungMakololotoforegoitsuse，althoughtheycannotpointtoanoldmaninthetribewhohasbeenaddictedtothisindulgenceIbelieveitwastheproximatecauseofSebituane’slastillness，foritsometimesoccasionspneumoniaNeverhavingtriedit，Icannotdescribethepleasurableeffectsitissaidtoproduce，butthehashishinuseamongtheTurksissimplyanextractofthesameplant，andthat，likeopium，producesdifferenteffectsondifferentindividuals。
Somevieweverythingasiflookinginthroughthewideendofatelescope，andothers，inpassingoverastraw，liftuptheirfeetasifabouttocrossthetrunkofatreeThePortugueseinAngolahavesuchabeliefinitsdeleteriouseffectsthattheuseofitbyaslaveisconsideredacrime。
NOVEMBER28THTheinhabitantsofthelastofKaonka’svillagescomplainedofbeingplunderedbytheindependentBatoka。
ThetribesinfrontofthisareregardedbytheMakololoasinastateofrebellionIpromisedtospeaktotherebelsonthesubject，andenjoinedonKaonkathedutyofgivingthemnooffenseAccordingtoSekeletu’sorder，Kaonkagaveusthetributeofmaize-cornandground-nuts，whichwouldotherwisehavegonetoLinyantiThishadbeendoneateveryvillage，andwetherebysavedthepeoplethetroubleofajourneytothecapitalMyownBatokahadbroughtawaysuchloadsofprovisionsfromtheirhomesthatwewereinnowantoffood。
AfterleavingKaonkawetraveledoveranuninhabited，gentlyundulating，andmostbeautifuldistrict，theborderterritorybetweenthosewhoacceptandthosewhorejecttheswayoftheMakololo。
Thefaceofthecountryappearsasifinlongwaves，runningnorthandsouth。
Therearenorivers，thoughwaterstandsinpoolsinthehollows。
WewerenowcomeintothecountrywhichmypeopleallmagnifyasaperfectparadiseSebituanewasdrivenfromitbytheMatebele。
Itsuitedhimexactlyforcattle，corn，andhealthThesoilisdry，andoftenareddishsand；therearefewtrees，butfinelargeshadyonesstanddottedhereandthereoverthecountrywheretownsformerlystood。
OneofthefigfamilyImeasured，andfoundtobefortyfeetincircumference；
thehearthadbeenburnedout，andsomeonehadmadealodginginit，forwesawtheremainsofabedandafireThesightoftheopencountry，withtheincreasedaltitudewewereattaining，wasmostrefreshingtothespiritsLargegameaboundWeseeinthedistancebuffaloes，elands，hartebeest，gnus，andelephants，allverytame，asnoonedisturbsthem。
Lions，whichalwaysaccompanyotherlargeanimals，roaredaboutus，but，asitwasmoonlight，therewasnodangerIntheevening，whilestandingonamassofgranite，onebegantoroaratme，thoughitwasstilllightThetemperaturewaspleasant，astherains，thoughnotuniversal，hadfalleninmanyplacesItwasverycloudy，preventingobservationsThetemperatureat6A。Mwas70Deg。，atmidday90Deg。，intheevening84DegThisisverypleasantonthehighlands，withbutlittlemoistureintheair。
ThedifferentrockstothewestwardofKaonka’s，talcosegneissandwhitemicaschist，generallydiptowardthewest，butatKaonka’s，largeroundedmassesofgranite，containingblackmica，begantoappear。
Theouterrindofitinclinestopeeloff，andlargecrystalsprojectontheexposedsurface。
Inpassingthroughsomepartswhereagoodshowerofrainhasfallen，thestridulouspiercingnotesofthecicadaeareperfectlydeafening；
adrab-coloredcricketjoinsthechoruswithasharpsound，whichhasaslittlemodulationasthedroneofaScottishbagpipe。
Icouldnotconceivehowsosmallathingcouldraisesuchasound；itseemedtomakethegroundoveritthrillWhencicadae，crickets，andfrogsunite，theirmusicmaybeheardatthedistanceofaquarterofamile。
Atreeattractedmyattentionasnew，theleavesbeinglikethoseofanacacia，buttheendsofthebranchesfromwhichtheygrewresembledcloselyoblongfir-conesThecorn-poppywasabundant，andmanyofthetrees，floweringbulbs，andplantswereidenticalwiththoseinPungoAndongoAfloweraswhiteasthesnowdropnowbeginstoappear，andfartheronitspotsthewholeswardwithitsbeautifulpurewhite。
Afreshcropappearseverymorning，andifthedayiscloudytheydonotexpandtilltheafternoonInanhourorsotheydroopanddie。
Theyarenamedbythenatives，fromtheirshape，“Tlakueapitse“，hoofofzebraIcarriedseveralofthesomewhatbulbousrootsofthisprettyflowertillIreachedtheMauritius。
Onthe30thwecrossedtheRiverKalomo，whichisabout50yardsbroad，andistheonlystreamthatneverdriesuponthisridge。
Thecurrentisrapid，anditscourseistowardthesouth，asitjoinstheZambesiatsomedistancebelowthefalls。
TheUnguesiandLekone，withtheirfeeders，flowwestward，thisrivertothesouth，andallthosetowhichweareabouttocometakeaneasterlydirectionWewerethusattheapexoftheridge，andfoundthat，aswaterboiledat202Deg。，ouraltitudeabovetheleveloftheseawasover5000feetHerethegranitecropsoutagainingreatroundedmasseswhichchangethedipofthegneissandmicaschistrocksfromthewestwardtotheeastwardIncrossingthewesternridgeImentionedtheclayshaleorkeeleformation，asectionofwhichwehaveinthevalleyoftheQuango：
thestratatherelienearlyhorizontal，butonthisridgethegraniteseemstohavebeentheactiveagentofelevation，fortherocks，bothonitseastandwest，abutagainstit。
Botheasternandwesternridgesareknowntobecomparativelysalubrious，andinthisrespect，aswellasinthegeneralaspectofthecountry，theyresemblethatmosthealthyofallhealthyclimates，theinteriorofSouthAfrica，nearandadjacenttotheDesert。
Thisridgehasneitherfountainnormarshuponit，andeastoftheKalomowelookupontreelessundulatingplainscoveredwithshortgrass。
Fromapointsomewhatneartothegreatfalls，thisridgeoroblongmoundtrendsawaytothenortheast，andtheretreelesselevatedplainsagainappear。
Thenagaintheridgeissaidtobendawayfromthefallstothesoutheast，theMashonacountry，orrathertheirmountains，appearing，accordingtoMrMoffat，aboutfourdayseastofMatlokotloko，thepresentresidenceofMosilikatseInreferencetothisridgehemakestheinterestingremark，“IobservedanumberoftheAngoragoat，mostofthembeingwhite；andtheirlongsofthair，coveringtheirentirebodiestotheground，madethemlooklikeanimalsmovingalongwithoutfeet。”*
*Moffat’s“VisittoMosilikatse“RoyalGeographicalSociety’sJournal，volxxvi。，p96。
ItisimpossibletosayhowmuchfarthertothenorththesesubtendingridgesmaystretchThereisreasontobelievethat，thoughthesamegeneralformofcountryobtains，theyarenotflankedbyabrupthillsbetweenthelatitude12DegsouthandtheequatorTheinquiryisworthytheattentionoftravelersAstheyareknowntobefavorabletohealth，theMakololo，whohavebeennearlyallcutoffbyfeversinthevalley，declaringthatheretheyneverhadaheadache，theymayevenberecommendedasasanatoriumforthosewhoseenterpriseleadsthemintoAfrica，eitherfortheadvancementofscientificknowledge，orforthepurposesoftradeorbenevolenceInthecaseoftheeasternridge，wehavewatercarriage，withonlyoneshortrapidasanobstruction，rightuptoitsbase；andifaquickpassagecanbeeffectedduringthehealthypartoftheyear，therewouldbenodangeroflossofhealthduringalongstayonthesehighlandsafterwardHowmuchfartherdothesehighridgesextend？Theeasternoneseemstobendinconsiderablytowardthegreatfalls；andthestrikeoftherocksindicatingthat，farthertotheN。N。Ethanmyinvestigationsextend，itmaynot，atafewdegreesoflatitudebeyond，bemorethan300or350milesfromthecoastTheyatleastmeritinquiry，fortheyaffordaprospecttoEuropeansofsituationssuperiorinpointofsalubritytoanyofthoseonthecoast；andsoonthewesternsideofthecontinent；
foritisafactthatmanypartsintheinteriorofAngola，whichwereformerlythoughttobeunhealthyonaccountoftheirdistanceinland，havebeenfound，aspopulationadvanced，tobethemosthealthyspotsinthecountryDidthegreatNigerexpeditionturnbackwhennearsuchadesirablepositionforitsstrickenandprostratemembers？
Thedistancesfromtoptotopoftheridgesmaybeabout10Degoflongitude，or600geographicalmilesIcannothearofahillONeitherridge，andtherearescarcelyanyinthespaceinclosedbythem。
TheMonakadzeisthehighest，butthatisnotmorethanathousandfeetabovetheflatvalleyOnaccountofthiswantofhillsinthepartofthecountrywhich，bygentleundulations，leadsoneinsensiblyuptoanaltitudeof5000feetabovethelevelofthesea，Ihaveadoptedtheagriculturaltermridges，fortheypartakeverymuchofthecharacteroftheoblongmoundswithwhichweareallfamiliarAndweshallyetseethatthemountainswhicharemetwithoutsidetheseridgesareonlyalowfringe，manyofwhicharenotofmuchgreateraltitudethaneventhebottomofthegreatcentralvalleyIfweleaveoutofviewthegreaterbreadthofthecentralbasinatotherparts，andspeakonlyofthecomparativelynarrowpartformedbythebendtothewestwardoftheeasternridge，wemightsaythattheformofthisregionisabroadfurrowinthemiddle，withanelevatedridgeabout200milesbroadoneitherside，thelandslopingthence，onbothsides，tothesea。
IfIamrightinbelievingthegranitetobethecauseoftheelevationofthisridge，thedirectioninwhichthestrikeoftherockstrendstotheN。N。Emayindicatethatthesamegeologicalstructureprevailsfarthernorth，andtwoorthreelakeswhichexistinthatdirectionmaybeofexactlythesamenaturewithLakeNgami，havingbeendiminishedtotheirpresentsizebythesamekindofagencyasthatwhichformedthefallsofVictoria。
WemetanelephantontheKalomowhichhadnotusksThisisasrareathinginAfricaasitistofindthemwithtusksinCeylonAssoonasshesawusshemadeoffItisremarkabletoseethefearofmanoperatingevenonthishugebeastBuffaloesabound，andweseelargeherdsofthemfeedinginalldirectionsbydayWhenmuchdisturbedbymantheyretireintothedensestpartsoftheforest，andfeedbynightonly。
Wesecuredafinelargebullbycrawlingclosetoaherd。
Whenshot，hefelldown，andtherest，notseeingtheirenemy，gazedabout，wonderingwherethedangerlayTheotherscamebacktoit，and，whenweshowedourselves，muchtotheamusementofmycompanions，theyliftedhimupwiththeirhorns，and，halfsupportinghiminthecrowd，borehimawayAllthesewildanimalsusuallygoreawoundedcompanion，andexpelhimfromtheherd；evenzebrasbiteandkickanunfortunateoradiseasedoneItisintendedbythisinstinctthatnonebuttheperfectandhealthyonesshouldpropagatethespecies。