Thecookingisusuallydoneinthenatives’ownstyle，and，astheycarefullywashthedishes，pots，andthehandsbeforehandlingfood，itisbynomeansdespicableSometimesalterationsaremadeatmysuggestion，andthentheybelievethattheycancookinthoroughwhiteman’sfashionThecookalwayscomesinforsomethingleftinthepot，soallareeagertoobtaintheoffice。
Itaughtseveralofthemtowashmyshirts，andtheydiditwell，thoughtheirteacherhadneverbeentaughtthatworkhimself。
Frequentchangesoflinenandsunningofmyblanketkeptmemorecomfortablethanmighthavebeenanticipated，andIfeelcertainthatthelessonsofcleanlinessrigidlyinstilledbymymotherinchildhoodhelpedtomaintainthatrespectwhichthesepeopleentertainforEuropeanwaysItisquestionableifadescenttobarbarouswayseverelevatesamanintheeyesofsavages。
Whenquitebeyondtheinhabitedparts，wefoundthecountryaboundinginanimallifeofeveryformThereareupwardofthirtyspeciesofbirdsontheriveritselfHundredsofthe`Ibisreligiosa’comedowntheLeeambyewiththerisingwater，astheydoontheNile；thenlargewhitepelicans，inflocksofthreehundredatatime，followingeachotherinlongextendingline，risingandfallingastheyflysoregularlyallalongastolooklikeanextendedcoilofbirds；cloudsofablackshell-eatingbird，calledlinongolo`Anastomuslamelligerus’；
alsoplovers，snipes，curlews，andheronswithoutnumber。
Thereare，besidesthemorecommon，somestrangevarieties。
Theprettywhite`ardetta’isseeninflocks，settlingonthebacksoflargeherdsofbuffaloes，andfollowingthemonthewingwhentheyrun；whilethekala`Textorerythrorhynchus’isabetterhorseman，foritsitsonthewitherswhentheanimalisatfullspeed。
Thenthosestrangebirds，thescissor-bills，withsnow-whitebreast，jet-blackcoat，andredbeak，sittingbydayonthesand-banks，theverypictureofcomfortandreposeTheirnestsareonlylittlehollowsmadeonthesesamesand-banks，withoutanyattemptofconcealment；
theywatchthemclosely，andfrightenawaythemarabouandcrowsfromtheireggsbyfeignedattacksattheirheadsWhenmanapproachestheirnests，theychangetheirtactics，and，likethelapwingandostrich，letonewingdropandmakeoneleglimp，asiflameTheuppermandiblebeingsomuchshorterthanthelower，theyoungaremorehelplessthanthestorkinthefablewiththeflatdishes，andmusthaveeverythingconveyedintothemouthbytheparentstilltheyareabletoprovideforthemselvesThelowermandible，asthinasapaper-knife，isputintothewaterwhilethebirdskimsalongthesurface，andscoopsupanylittleinsectsitmeetsIthasgreatlengthofwing，andcancontinueitsflightwithperfectease，thewingsacting，thoughkeptabovethelevelofthebodyThewonderis，howthisplowingofthesurfaceofthewatercanbesowellperformedastoyieldameal，foritisusuallydoneinthedark。
Likemostaquaticfeeders，theyworkbynight，wheninsectsandfishesrisetothesurfaceTheyhavegreataffectionfortheiryoung，itsamountbeingincreasedinproportiontothehelplessnessoftheoffspring。
Therearealsonumbersofspoonbills，nearlywhiteinplumage；
thebeautiful，statelyflamingo；theNumidiancrane，ordemoiselle，someofwhich，tamedatGovernmentHouse，CapeTown，struckeveryoneasmostgracefulornamentstoanoblemansion，astheyperchedonitspillars。
Therearetwocranesbesidesonelightblue，theotheralsolightblue，butwithawhiteneck；andgulls`Procellaria’ofdifferentsizesabound。
Oneprettylittlewader，anavoset，appearsasifstandingonstilts，itslegsaresolong；anditsbillseemsbentthewrongway，orupward。
Itisconstantlyseenwadingintheshallows，digginguplittleslipperyinsects，thepeculiarformofthebillenablingittoworkthemeasilyoutofthesandWhenfeeding，itputsitsheadunderthewatertoseizetheinsectatthebottom，thenliftsitupquickly，makingarapidgobbling，asifswallowingawrigglingworm。
The`ParraAfricana’runsaboutonthesurface，asifwalkingonwater，catchinginsectsIttoohaslong，thinlegs，andextremelylongtoes，forthepurposeofenablingittostandonthefloatinglotus-leavesandotheraquaticplantsWhenitstandsonalotus-leaffiveinchesindiameter，thespreadofthetoes，actingontheprincipleofsnow-shoes，occupiesallthesurface，anditneversinks，thoughitobtainsalivelihood，notbyswimmingorflying，butbywalkingonthewater。
Water-birds，whosepreyorfoodrequiresacertainaimoractioninonedirection，havebillsquitestraightinform，astheheronandsnipe；
whilethosewhichareintendedtocomeincontactwithhardsubstances，asbreakingshells，havethebillsgentlycurved，inorderthattheshockmaynotbecommunicatedtothebrain。
TheBarotsevalleycontainsgreatnumbersoflargeblackgeese。*
Theymaybeseeneverywherewalkingslowlyabout，feeding。
Theyhaveastrongblackspurontheshoulder，likethearmedplover，andasstrongasthatontheheelofacock，butareneverseentousethem，exceptindefenseoftheiryoungTheychooseant-hillsfortheirnests，andinthetimeoflayingtheBarotseconsumevastquantitiesoftheireggs。
Therearealsotwovarietiesofgeese，ofsomewhatsmallersize，butbettereatingOneofthese，theEgyptiangoose，orVulpanser，cannotrisefromthewater，andduringthefloodsoftherivergreatnumbersarekilledbybeingpursuedincanoesThethirdisfurnishedwithapeculiarknobonthebeakThese，withmyriadsofducksofthreevarieties，aboundeverywhereontheLeeambye。
Ononeoccasionthecanoenearedabankonwhichalargeflockwassitting。
Twoshotsfurnishedourwholepartywithasupper，forwepickedupseventeenducksandagooseNowondertheBarotsealwayslookbacktothisfruitfulvalleyastheIsraelitesdidtotheflesh-potsofEgypt。
Thepoorestpersonsaresowellsuppliedwithfoodfromtheirgardens，fruitsfromtheforesttrees，andfishfromtheriver，thattheirchildren，whentakenintotheserviceoftheMakololo，wheretheyhaveonlyonelargemealaday，becomequiteemaciated，andpineforareturntotheirparents。
*`Anserleucagaster’and`melanogaster’。
Partofourcompanymarchedalongthebankswiththeoxen，andpartwentinthecanoes，butourpacewasregulatedbythespeedofthemenonshore。
Theircoursewasratherdifficult，onaccountofthenumbersofdepartingandre-enteringbranchesoftheLeeambye，whichtheyhadtoavoidorwaitattillweferriedthemoverThenumberofalligatorsisprodigious，andinthisrivertheyaremoresavagethaninsomeothers。
ManychildrenarecarriedoffannuallyatSeshekeandothertowns；
for，notwithstandingthedanger，whentheygodownforwatertheyalmostalwaysmustplayawhileThisreptileissaidbythenativestostrikethevictimwithitstail，thendraghiminanddrownhim。
Whenlyinginthewaterwatchingforprey，thebodyneverappears。
Manycalvesarelostalso，anditisseldomthatanumberofcowscanswimoveratSeshekewithoutsomelossInevercouldavoidshudderingonseeingmymenswimmingacrossthesebranches，afteroneofthemhadbeencaughtbythethighandtakenbelowHe，however，retained，asnearlyalloftheminthemosttryingcircumstancesdo，hisfullpresenceofmind，and，havingasmall，square，ragged-edgedjavelinwithhim，whendraggedtothebottomgavethealligatorastabbehindtheshoulderThealligator，writhinginpain，lefthim，andhecameoutwiththedeepmarksofthereptile’steethonhisthigh。
Herethepeoplehavenoantipathytopersonswhohavemetwithsuchanadventure，but，intheBamangwatoandBakwaintribes，ifamaniseitherbittenorevenhashadwatersplashedoverhimbythereptile’stail，heisexpelledhistribeWhenontheZougawesawoneoftheBamangwatolivingamongtheBayeiye，whohadthemisfortunetohavebeenbittenanddrivenoutofhistribeinconsequence。
FearingthatIwouldregardhimwiththesamedisgustwhichhiscountrymenprofesstofeel，hewouldnottellmethecauseofhisexile，buttheBayeiyeinformedmeofit，andthescarsoftheteethwerevisibleonhisthighIftheBakwainshappenedtogonearanalligatortheywouldspitontheground，andindicateitspresencebysaying“Boleokibo““Thereissin“Theyimaginethemeresightofitwouldgiveinflammationoftheeyes；andthoughtheyeatthezebrawithouthesitation，yetifonebitesamanheisexpelledthetribe，andobligedtotakehiswifeandfamilyawaytotheKalahari。
Thesecuriousrelicsoftheanimal-worshipofformertimesscarcelyexistamongtheMakololoSebituaneactedontheprinciple，“Whateverisfoodformenisfoodforme；“sonomanishereconsidereduncleanTheBarotseappearinclinedtopraytoalligatorsandeatthemtoo，forwhenIwoundedawater-antelope，calledmochose，ittooktothewater；whenneartheothersideoftheriveranalligatorappearedatitstail，andthenbothsanktogether。
Mashauana，whowasnearertoitthanI，toldmethat，“thoughhehadcalledtoittolethismeatalone，itrefusedtolisten。”
OnedaywepassedsomeBarotseladswhohadspearedanalligator，andwerewaitinginexpectationofitsfloatingsoonafter。
Themeathasastrongmuskyodor，notatallinvitingforanyoneexcepttheveryhungry。
WhenwehadgonethirtyorfortymilesaboveLibontawesentelevenofourcaptivestothewest，tothechiefcalledMakoma，withanexplanatorymessageThiscausedsomedelay；butaswewereloadedwithpresentsoffoodfromtheMakololo，andthewildanimalswereinenormousherds，wefaredsumptuouslyItwasgrievous，however，toshootthelovelycreatures，theyweresotameWithbutlittleskillinstalking，onecouldeasilygetwithinfiftyorsixtyyardsofthem。
ThereIlay，lookingatthegracefulformsandmotionsofbeautifulpokus，*
leches，andotherantelopes，oftentillmymen，wonderingwhatwasthematter，cameuptosee，andfrightenedthemawayIfwehadbeenstarving，IcouldhaveslaughteredthemwithaslittlehesitationasIshouldcutoffapatient’sleg；butIfeltadoubt，andtheantelopesgotthebenefitofit。
Havetheyaguardianspiritoverthem？Ihaverepeatedlyobserved，whenIapproachedaherdlyingbeyondanant-hillwithatreeonit，andviewedthemwiththegreatestcaution，theyverysoonshowedsymptomsofuneasinessTheydidnotsniffdangerinthewind，forIwastoleewardofthem；butthealmostinvariableapprehensionofdangerwhicharose，whileunconsciousofthedirectioninwhichitlay，mademewonderwhethereachhadwhattheancientphysiciansthoughtweallpossessed，anarchon，orpresidingspirit。
*Iproposetonamethisnewspecies`AntilopeVardonii’，aftertheAfricantraveler，MajorVardon。
Ifwecouldascertainthemostfatalspotinananimal，wecoulddispatchitwiththeleastpossibleamountofsuffering；butasthatisprobablytheparttowhichthegreatestamountofnervousinfluenceisdirectedatthemomentofreceivingtheshot，ifwecannotbesureoftheheartorbrain，wearenevercertainofspeedydeath。
Antelopes，formedforapartiallyamphibiousexistence，andotheranimalsofthatclass，aremuchmoretenaciousoflifethanthosewhicharepurelyterrestrialMostantelopes，whenindistressorpursued，makeforthewaterIfhunted，theyalwaysdo。
Alecheshotrightthroughthebody，andnolimb-bonebroken，isalmostsuretogetaway，whileazebra，withawoundofnogreaterseverity，willprobablydropdowndeadIhaveseenarhinoceros，whilestandingapparentlychewingthecud，dropdowndeadfromashotinthestomach，whileothersshotthroughonelungandthestomachgooffasiflittlehurt。
Butifoneshouldcrawlupsilentlytowithintwentyyardseitherofthewhiteorblackrhinoceros，throwingupapinchofdusteverynowandthen，tofindoutthattheanxietytokeepthebodyconcealedbythebusheshasnotledhimtothewindwardside，thensitdown，resttheelbowontheknees，andaim，slantingalittleupward，atadarkspotbehindtheshoulders，itfallsstonedead。
Toshowthatashockonthepartofthesystemtowhichmuchnervousforceisatthetimedirectedwilldestroylife，itmaybementionedthataneland，whenhunted，canbedispatchedbyawoundwhichdoeslittlemorethaninjurethemuscularsystem；itswholenervousforceisthenimbuingtheorgansofmotion；andagiraffe，whenpressedhardbyagoodhorseonlytwoorthreehundredyards，hasbeenknowntodropdowndead，withoutanywoundbeinginflictedatallAfullgallopbyanelandorgiraffequitedissipatesitspower，andthehunters，awareofthis，alwaystrytopressthematoncetoit，knowingthattheyhavebutashortspacetorunbeforetheanimalsareintheirpower。
Indoingthis，theoldsportsmenarecarefulnottogotooclosetothegiraffe’stail，forthisanimalcanswinghishindfootroundinawaywhichwouldleavelittletochoosebetweenakickwithitandaclapfromthearmofawindmill。