p. 83

which I called my snake protectors and these I
put on. I wore a thin shirt waist, took off
my petticoat and with my shilling hat and
parasol was soon ready. We walked through
the rapidly intensifying heat and dust
unspeakable along broad paths which
considering the sandy condition of the soil
were in fair condition. The grass along the
sides of the path had been freshly burned and as
the trees are large or very near each other, a clear
view of the ground was rendered in every
direction. I soon saw that I had no need at
this season of my snake protectors and that wild
animals would not come near the burned
paths. We crossed the bridge where we got our
first view of the Falls and pronounced it disap-
pointing. The water is low and much of the shelf
over which the wonder of Africa pours is now
dry. We walked on getting a new view here
and there, for the construction is such that
nowhere is there a view to be seen of the
complete Fall. We finally came to the bank
of the Zambesi [Zambezi] where a group of blacks, under