These Babisa are full of suspicion; everything has to be paid for accordingly in advance, and we found that giving a present to a chief is only putting it in his power to cheat us out of a supper.  They give nothing to each other for nothing, and if this is enlargement of mind produced by commerce, commend me to the untrading African!

Fish now appear in the rivulets.  Higher altitudes have only small things, not worth catching.

An owl makes the woods resound by night and early morning with his cries, which consist of a loud, double-initial note, and then a succession of lower descending notes.  Another new bird, or at least new to me, makes the forests ring.

When the vultures see us making our sheds, they conclude that we have killed some animal; but after watching awhile, and seeing no meat, they depart.  This is suggestive of what other things prove, that it is only by sight they are guided.[47]

With respect to the native head-dresses the colouring-matter, “nkola,” which seems to be camwood, is placed as an ornament on the head, and some is put on the bark-cloth to give it a pleasant appearance.  The tree, when cut, is burned to bring out the strong colour, and then, when it is developed, the wood is powdered.

The gum-copal trees now pour out gum where wounded, and I have seen masses of it fallen on the ground.

26th January, 1867.—­Went northwards along the Movushi, near to its confluence with Chambeze, and then took lodging in a deserted temporary village.  In the evening I shot a poku, or tsebula, full-grown male.  It measured from snout to insertion of tail, 5 feet 3 inches; tail, 1 foot; height at withers, 3 feet; circumference of chest, 5 feet; face to insertion of horns, 9-1/2 inches; horns measured on curve, 16 inches.  Twelve rings on horns, and one had a ridge behind, 1/2 inch broad, 1/2 inch high, and tapering up the horn; probably accidental.  Colour:  reddish-yellow, dark points in front of foot and on the ears, belly nearly white.  The shell went through from behind the shoulder to the spleen, and burst on the other side, yet he ran 100 yards.  I felt very thankful to the Giver of all good for this meat.

27th January, 1867.—­A set-in rain all the morning, but having meat we were comfortable in the old huts.  In changing my dress this morning I was frightened at my own emaciation.

28th January, 1867.—–­ We went five miles along the Movushi and the Chambeze to a crossing-place said to avoid three rivers on the other side, which require canoes just now, and have none.  Our lat. 10 deg. 34’ S. The Chambeze was flooded with clear water, but the lines of bushy trees, which showed its real banks, were not more than forty yards apart, it showed its usual character of abundant animal life in its waters and on its banks, as it wended its way westwards.  The canoe-man was excessively suspicious; when prepayment was acceded to, he asked a piece more, and although he was promised full payment as soon as we were all safely across he kept the last man on the south side as a hostage for this bit of calico:  he then ran away.  They must cheat each other sadly.