Meramana and Zomba to Liwonde 



hardly soup perhaps in the accepted sense of the 

 word, but a concentrated extract of meat produced 

 by boiling large lumps for some hours. When one 

 chunk has had all the good taken out of it, it should 

 be thrown away and a fresh bit put into the pot. 

 The result, mixed with rice or vegetables, is sus- 

 taining and easily digested. The tongues of the 

 larger beasts were much appreciated, as also the 

 marrow bones, which are a great delicacy. 



We have now for some years carried two " Gem " 

 distillers with us, and never drink any other than 

 distilled water, which we also use as much as possible 

 for cooking. To this practice we attribute in great 

 measure the excellent health we have been fortunate 

 enough to enjoy during our travels. 



To work these distillers all that is necessary, in 

 addition to plenty of water, is an ample supply of 

 wood, which, fortunately, is generally obtainable in 

 the wilds. Distillers are better than the best of 

 filters, for the water they provide is perfectly pure. 

 Natives, though they quickly understand their 

 principle, and get quite to like them, taking an interest 

 in seeing them work, cannot resist, when in a hurry, 

 the inclination to supplement the distilled with dirty 

 boiling water from the reservoir at the top: they 

 therefore require constant supervision. 



As a greater safeguard the bottles of distilled 

 water were brought to us from time to time, and 

 these we examined very carefully, rejecting the 

 contents without hesitation if there was the least 

 sediment, or if the water was at all coloured. If 

 satisfactory, they were emptied into a jar which was 



41 



