Beyond Lay The Land Of
Kidi, A Forest Of Mimosa Trees, Rising Gently Away From The Water
In Soft Clouds Of Green.
This, the governor of the place, Kija,
described as a sporting-field, where elephants, hippopotami, and
buffalo are hunted by the occupants of both sides of the river.
The elephant is killed with a new kind of spear, with a double-
edged blade a yard long, and a handle which, weighted in any way
most easy, is pear-shaped.
With these instruments in their hands, some men climb into trees
and wait for the herd to pass, whilst others drive them under.
The hippopotami, however, are not hunted, but snared with lunda,
the common tripping-trap with spike-drop, which is placed in the
runs of this animal, described by every South African traveller,
and generally known as far as the Hametic language is spread. The
Karuma Falls, if such they may be called, are a mere sluice or
rush of water between high syenitic stones, falling in a long
slope down a ten-feet drop. There are others of minor
importance, and one within ear-sound, down the river, said to be
very grand.
The name given to the Karuma Falls arose from the absurd belief
that Karuma, the agent or familiar of a certain great spirit,
placed the stones that break the waters in the river, and, for so
doing, was applauded by his master, who, to reward his services
by an appropriate distinction, allowed the stones to be called
Karuma.
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