Near Our Tent Were About Half-A-Dozen Canoes, Large And Small, Belonging To The Villagers. Our Tent Door Fronted The Glorious Expanse Of Fresh Water, Inviting The Breeze, And The Views Of Distant Ugoma And Ukaramba, And The Island Of Muzimu, Whose Ridges Appeared Of A Deep-Blue Colour.

At our feet were the clean and well-washed pebbles, borne upward into tiny lines and heaps by the restless surf.

A search amongst these would reveal to us the material of the mountain heaps which rose behind and on our right and left; there was schist, conglomerate sandstone, a hard white clay, an ochreish clay containing much iron, polished quartz, &c. Looking out of our tent, we could see a line on each side of us of thick tall reeds, which form something like a hedge between the beach and the cultivated area around Niasanga. Among birds seen here, the most noted were the merry wagtails, which are regarded as good omens and messengers of peace by the natives, and any harm done unto them is quickly resented, and is fineable. Except to the mischievously inclined, they offer no inducement to commit violence. On landing, they flew to meet us, balancing themselves in the air in front, within easy reach of our hands. The other birds were crows, turtle-doves, fish-hawks, kingfishers, ibis nigra and ibis religiosa, flocks of whydah birds, geese, darters, paddy birds, kites, and eagles.

At this place the Doctor suffered from dysentery - it is his only weak point, he says; and, as I afterwards found, it is a frequent complaint with him.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 431 of 595
Words from 117407 to 117674 of 163520