While Collecting Wood That Evening,
I Found A Bird's Nest Consisting Of Live Leaves Sewn Together
With Threads Of The Spider's Web.
Nothing could exceed
the airiness of this pretty contrivance; the threads had been
pushed through small punctures and thickened to resemble a knot.
I unfortunately lost it.
This was the second nest I had seen
resembling that of the tailor-bird of India.
Next morning, by climbing the highest trees, we could see
a fine large sheet of water, but surrounded on all sides by the same
impenetrable belt of reeds. This is the broad part of the River Chobe,
and is called Zabesa. Two tree-covered islands seemed to be
much nearer to the water than the shore on which we were,
so we made an attempt to get to them first. It was not the reeds alone
we had to pass through; a peculiar serrated grass, which at certain angles
cut the hands like a razor, was mingled with the reed,
and the climbing convolvulus, with stalks which felt as strong as whipcord,
bound the mass together. We felt like pigmies in it, and often
the only way we could get on was by both of us leaning against a part
and bending it down till we could stand upon it. The perspiration
streamed off our bodies, and as the sun rose high, there being
no ventilation among the reeds, the heat was stifling, and the water,
which was up to the knees, felt agreeably refreshing.
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