Thewhiteantkeepsgenerallyoutofsight，andworksundergalleriesconstructedbynighttoscreenthemfromtheobservationofbirds。
　　Atsomegivensignal，however，Inevercouldascertainwhat，theyrushoutbyhundreds，andthesoundoftheirmandiblescuttinggrassintolengthsmaybeheardlikeagentlewindmurmuringthroughtheleavesofthetreesTheydragthesepiecestothedoorsoftheirabodes，andaftersomehours’toilleaveoffwork，andmanyofthebitsofgrassmaybeseencollectedaroundtheorifice。
　　Theycontinueoutofsightforperhapsamonth，buttheyareneveridle。
　　Ononeoccasion，agoodbundleofgrasswaslaiddownformybedonaspotwhichwasquitesmoothanddestituteofplants。
　　Theantsatoncesoundedthecalltoagoodsupplyofgrass。
　　Iheardthemincessantlynibblingandcarryingawayallthatnight；
　　andtheycontinuedallnextdaySunday，andallthatnighttoo，withunabatedenergyTheyhadthusbeenthirty-sixhoursatit，andseemedasfreshaseverInsomesituations，ifweremainedaday，theydevouredthegrassbeneathmymat，andwouldhaveeatenthattoohadwenotlaiddownmoregrassAtsomeoftheiroperationstheybeattimeinacuriousmannerHundredsofthemareengagedinbuildingalargetube，andtheywishtobeatitsmoothAtasignal，theyallgivethreeorfourenergeticbeatsontheplasterinunison。
　　Itproducesasoundlikethedroppingofrainoffabushwhentouched。
　　Theseinsectsarethechiefagentsemployedinformingafertilesoil。
　　Butfortheirlabors，thetropicalforests，badastheyarenowwithfallentrees，wouldbeathousandtimesworseTheywouldbeimpassableonaccountoftheheapsofdeadvegetationlyingonthesurface，andemittingworseeffluviathanthecomparativelysmallunburiedcollectionsdonow。
　　Whenonelooksatthewonderfuladaptationsthroughoutcreation，andthevariedoperationscarriedonwithsuchwisdomandskill，theideaofsecondcauseslooksclumsyWeareviewingthedirecthandiworkofHimwhoistheoneandonlyPowerintheuniverse；
　　wonderfulincounsel；inwhomwealllive，andmove，andhaveourbeing。
　　TheBatokaofthesepartsareverydegradedintheirappearance，andarenotlikelytoimprove，eitherphysicallyormentally，whilesomuchaddictedtosmokingthemutokwane`Cannabissativa’。
　　Theylikeitsnarcoticeffects，thoughtheviolentfitofcoughingwhichfollowsacoupleofpuffsofsmokeappearsdistressing，andcausesafeelingofdisgustinthespectatorThisisnotdiminishedonseeingtheusualpracticeoftakingamouthfulofwater，andsquirtingitouttogetherwiththesmoke，thenutteringastringofhalf-incoherentsentences，usuallyinself-praiseThisperniciousweedisextensivelyusedinallthetribesoftheinteriorItcausesaspeciesofphrensy，andSebituane’ssoldiers，oncominginsightoftheirenemies，satdownandsmokedit，inorderthattheymightmakeaneffectiveonslaught。
　　IwasunabletoprevailonSekeletuandtheyoungMakololotoforegoitsuse，althoughtheycannotpointtoanoldmaninthetribewhohasbeenaddictedtothisindulgenceIbelieveitwastheproximatecauseofSebituane’slastillness，foritsometimesoccasionspneumoniaNeverhavingtriedit，Icannotdescribethepleasurableeffectsitissaidtoproduce，butthehashishinuseamongtheTurksissimplyanextractofthesameplant，andthat，likeopium，producesdifferenteffectsondifferentindividuals。
　　Somevieweverythingasiflookinginthroughthewideendofatelescope，andothers，inpassingoverastraw，liftuptheirfeetasifabouttocrossthetrunkofatreeThePortugueseinAngolahavesuchabeliefinitsdeleteriouseffectsthattheuseofitbyaslaveisconsideredacrime。
　　NOVEMBER28THTheinhabitantsofthelastofKaonka’svillagescomplainedofbeingplunderedbytheindependentBatoka。
　　ThetribesinfrontofthisareregardedbytheMakololoasinastateofrebellionIpromisedtospeaktotherebelsonthesubject，andenjoinedonKaonkathedutyofgivingthemnooffenseAccordingtoSekeletu’sorder，Kaonkagaveusthetributeofmaize-cornandground-nuts，whichwouldotherwisehavegonetoLinyantiThishadbeendoneateveryvillage，andwetherebysavedthepeoplethetroubleofajourneytothecapitalMyownBatokahadbroughtawaysuchloadsofprovisionsfromtheirhomesthatwewereinnowantoffood。
　　AfterleavingKaonkawetraveledoveranuninhabited，gentlyundulating，andmostbeautifuldistrict，theborderterritorybetweenthosewhoacceptandthosewhorejecttheswayoftheMakololo。
　　Thefaceofthecountryappearsasifinlongwaves，runningnorthandsouth。
　　Therearenorivers，thoughwaterstandsinpoolsinthehollows。
　　WewerenowcomeintothecountrywhichmypeopleallmagnifyasaperfectparadiseSebituanewasdrivenfromitbytheMatebele。
　　Itsuitedhimexactlyforcattle，corn，andhealthThesoilisdry，andoftenareddishsand；therearefewtrees，butfinelargeshadyonesstanddottedhereandthereoverthecountrywheretownsformerlystood。
　　OneofthefigfamilyImeasured，andfoundtobefortyfeetincircumference；
　　thehearthadbeenburnedout，andsomeonehadmadealodginginit，forwesawtheremainsofabedandafireThesightoftheopencountry，withtheincreasedaltitudewewereattaining，wasmostrefreshingtothespiritsLargegameaboundWeseeinthedistancebuffaloes，elands，hartebeest，gnus，andelephants，allverytame，asnoonedisturbsthem。
　　Lions，whichalwaysaccompanyotherlargeanimals，roaredaboutus，but，asitwasmoonlight，therewasnodangerIntheevening，whilestandingonamassofgranite，onebegantoroaratme，thoughitwasstilllightThetemperaturewaspleasant，astherains，thoughnotuniversal，hadfalleninmanyplacesItwasverycloudy，preventingobservationsThetemperatureat6A。Mwas70Deg。，atmidday90Deg。，intheevening84DegThisisverypleasantonthehighlands，withbutlittlemoistureintheair。
　　ThedifferentrockstothewestwardofKaonka’s，talcosegneissandwhitemicaschist，generallydiptowardthewest，butatKaonka’s，largeroundedmassesofgranite，containingblackmica，begantoappear。
　　Theouterrindofitinclinestopeeloff，andlargecrystalsprojectontheexposedsurface。
　　Inpassingthroughsomepartswhereagoodshowerofrainhasfallen，thestridulouspiercingnotesofthecicadaeareperfectlydeafening；
　　adrab-coloredcricketjoinsthechoruswithasharpsound，whichhasaslittlemodulationasthedroneofaScottishbagpipe。
　　Icouldnotconceivehowsosmallathingcouldraisesuchasound；itseemedtomakethegroundoveritthrillWhencicadae，crickets，andfrogsunite，theirmusicmaybeheardatthedistanceofaquarterofamile。
　　Atreeattractedmyattentionasnew，theleavesbeinglikethoseofanacacia，buttheendsofthebranchesfromwhichtheygrewresembledcloselyoblongfir-conesThecorn-poppywasabundant，andmanyofthetrees，floweringbulbs，andplantswereidenticalwiththoseinPungoAndongoAfloweraswhiteasthesnowdropnowbeginstoappear，andfartheronitspotsthewholeswardwithitsbeautifulpurewhite。
　　Afreshcropappearseverymorning，andifthedayiscloudytheydonotexpandtilltheafternoonInanhourorsotheydroopanddie。
　　Theyarenamedbythenatives，fromtheirshape，“Tlakueapitse“，hoofofzebraIcarriedseveralofthesomewhatbulbousrootsofthisprettyflowertillIreachedtheMauritius。
　　Onthe30thwecrossedtheRiverKalomo，whichisabout50yardsbroad，andistheonlystreamthatneverdriesuponthisridge。
　　Thecurrentisrapid，anditscourseistowardthesouth，asitjoinstheZambesiatsomedistancebelowthefalls。
　　TheUnguesiandLekone，withtheirfeeders，flowwestward，thisrivertothesouth，andallthosetowhichweareabouttocometakeaneasterlydirectionWewerethusattheapexoftheridge，andfoundthat，aswaterboiledat202Deg。，ouraltitudeabovetheleveloftheseawasover5000feetHerethegranitecropsoutagainingreatroundedmasseswhichchangethedipofthegneissandmicaschistrocksfromthewestwardtotheeastwardIncrossingthewesternridgeImentionedtheclayshaleorkeeleformation，asectionofwhichwehaveinthevalleyoftheQuango：
　　thestratatherelienearlyhorizontal，butonthisridgethegraniteseemstohavebeentheactiveagentofelevation，fortherocks，bothonitseastandwest，abutagainstit。
　　Botheasternandwesternridgesareknowntobecomparativelysalubrious，andinthisrespect，aswellasinthegeneralaspectofthecountry，theyresemblethatmosthealthyofallhealthyclimates，theinteriorofSouthAfrica，nearandadjacenttotheDesert。
　　Thisridgehasneitherfountainnormarshuponit，andeastoftheKalomowelookupontreelessundulatingplainscoveredwithshortgrass。
　　Fromapointsomewhatneartothegreatfalls，thisridgeoroblongmoundtrendsawaytothenortheast，andtheretreelesselevatedplainsagainappear。
　　Thenagaintheridgeissaidtobendawayfromthefallstothesoutheast，theMashonacountry，orrathertheirmountains，appearing，accordingtoMrMoffat，aboutfourdayseastofMatlokotloko，thepresentresidenceofMosilikatseInreferencetothisridgehemakestheinterestingremark，“IobservedanumberoftheAngoragoat，mostofthembeingwhite；andtheirlongsofthair，coveringtheirentirebodiestotheground，madethemlooklikeanimalsmovingalongwithoutfeet。”*
　　*Moffat’s“VisittoMosilikatse“RoyalGeographicalSociety’sJournal，volxxvi。，p96。
　　ItisimpossibletosayhowmuchfarthertothenorththesesubtendingridgesmaystretchThereisreasontobelievethat，thoughthesamegeneralformofcountryobtains，theyarenotflankedbyabrupthillsbetweenthelatitude12DegsouthandtheequatorTheinquiryisworthytheattentionoftravelersAstheyareknowntobefavorabletohealth，theMakololo，whohavebeennearlyallcutoffbyfeversinthevalley，declaringthatheretheyneverhadaheadache，theymayevenberecommendedasasanatoriumforthosewhoseenterpriseleadsthemintoAfrica，eitherfortheadvancementofscientificknowledge，orforthepurposesoftradeorbenevolenceInthecaseoftheeasternridge，wehavewatercarriage，withonlyoneshortrapidasanobstruction，rightuptoitsbase；andifaquickpassagecanbeeffectedduringthehealthypartoftheyear，therewouldbenodangeroflossofhealthduringalongstayonthesehighlandsafterwardHowmuchfartherdothesehighridgesextend？Theeasternoneseemstobendinconsiderablytowardthegreatfalls；andthestrikeoftherocksindicatingthat，farthertotheN。N。Ethanmyinvestigationsextend，itmaynot，atafewdegreesoflatitudebeyond，bemorethan300or350milesfromthecoastTheyatleastmeritinquiry，fortheyaffordaprospecttoEuropeansofsituationssuperiorinpointofsalubritytoanyofthoseonthecoast；andsoonthewesternsideofthecontinent；
　　foritisafactthatmanypartsintheinteriorofAngola，whichwereformerlythoughttobeunhealthyonaccountoftheirdistanceinland，havebeenfound，aspopulationadvanced，tobethemosthealthyspotsinthecountryDidthegreatNigerexpeditionturnbackwhennearsuchadesirablepositionforitsstrickenandprostratemembers？
　　Thedistancesfromtoptotopoftheridgesmaybeabout10Degoflongitude，or600geographicalmilesIcannothearofahillONeitherridge，andtherearescarcelyanyinthespaceinclosedbythem。
　　TheMonakadzeisthehighest，butthatisnotmorethanathousandfeetabovetheflatvalleyOnaccountofthiswantofhillsinthepartofthecountrywhich，bygentleundulations，leadsoneinsensiblyuptoanaltitudeof5000feetabovethelevelofthesea，Ihaveadoptedtheagriculturaltermridges，fortheypartakeverymuchofthecharacteroftheoblongmoundswithwhichweareallfamiliarAndweshallyetseethatthemountainswhicharemetwithoutsidetheseridgesareonlyalowfringe，manyofwhicharenotofmuchgreateraltitudethaneventhebottomofthegreatcentralvalleyIfweleaveoutofviewthegreaterbreadthofthecentralbasinatotherparts，andspeakonlyofthecomparativelynarrowpartformedbythebendtothewestwardoftheeasternridge，wemightsaythattheformofthisregionisabroadfurrowinthemiddle，withanelevatedridgeabout200milesbroadoneitherside，thelandslopingthence，onbothsides，tothesea。
　　IfIamrightinbelievingthegranitetobethecauseoftheelevationofthisridge，thedirectioninwhichthestrikeoftherockstrendstotheN。N。Emayindicatethatthesamegeologicalstructureprevailsfarthernorth，andtwoorthreelakeswhichexistinthatdirectionmaybeofexactlythesamenaturewithLakeNgami，havingbeendiminishedtotheirpresentsizebythesamekindofagencyasthatwhichformedthefallsofVictoria。
　　WemetanelephantontheKalomowhichhadnotusksThisisasrareathinginAfricaasitistofindthemwithtusksinCeylonAssoonasshesawusshemadeoffItisremarkabletoseethefearofmanoperatingevenonthishugebeastBuffaloesabound，andweseelargeherdsofthemfeedinginalldirectionsbydayWhenmuchdisturbedbymantheyretireintothedensestpartsoftheforest，andfeedbynightonly。
　　Wesecuredafinelargebullbycrawlingclosetoaherd。
　　Whenshot，hefelldown，andtherest，notseeingtheirenemy，gazedabout，wonderingwherethedangerlayTheotherscamebacktoit，and，whenweshowedourselves，muchtotheamusementofmycompanions，theyliftedhimupwiththeirhorns，and，halfsupportinghiminthecrowd，borehimawayAllthesewildanimalsusuallygoreawoundedcompanion，andexpelhimfromtheherd；evenzebrasbiteandkickanunfortunateoradiseasedoneItisintendedbythisinstinctthatnonebuttheperfectandhealthyonesshouldpropagatethespecies。