It is called a lion, though, if one were not told so, he would conclude it to be an alligator.

It stood in a shed, and the Balonda pray and beat drums before it all night in cases of sickness.
Some of the men of Manenko's train had shields made of reeds, neatly woven into a square shape, about five feet long and three broad.

With these, and short broadswords and sheaves of iron-headed arrows, they appeared rather ferocious.

But the constant habit of wearing arms is probably only a substitute for the courage they do not possess.

We always deposited our fire-arms and spears outside a village before entering it, while the Balonda, on visiting us at our encampment, always came fully armed, until we ordered them either to lay down their weapons or be off.