CHAPTER VI. 



DEDZA TO LILONGWE DIVIDING THE RATIONS 



A HERD OF ELEPHANT HOLD UP THE ROAD. 



ON arriving at Dedza we had dismissed ten of our 

 porters, northern Angonies, who wished to proceed 

 to their homes, and replaced them by ten local men, 

 who joined us on our return from Mua. Our loads 

 had been reduced by two through the consumption 

 of stores, so that we had now one surplus porter at 

 least, which rather puzzled John, who did not know 

 what to do with him. 



We got off about 7 A.M., and, leaving the direct 

 road to Lilongwe, branched off to the right along a 

 track leading into the mountains, our destination 

 being the district between Kalomo and Chongoni 

 mountains, where sable were reported to be fairly 

 plentiful. Our track, which at first skirted the 

 western side of the Dedza mountain, led us through 

 beautiful scenery, a country of rolling downs, dotted 

 here and there with great round boulders covered 

 with grey lichen, perched precariously one above 

 the other. 



We marched till 1 1 A.M., the air feeling cool 

 and pleasant, and camped on some high ground, 

 from which we had a magnificent view over the 

 surrounding country. 



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