Lake Kiwu and its Islands 91 



a charge of lOO to 150 grammes of dynamite attained a very 

 considerable height, but there was no danger so long as the 

 boat did not lie immediately above it. This, of course, is easily 

 avoided by watching the smoke. Little remained to interest 

 biologists on the flat sandy beach of Kiwu in the locality of 

 Kissenji, and so we prepared for a tour of the islands of Kiwu. 

 On the same day that the Duke, with Lieutenant von Wiese, 

 von Raven, and Captain von Grawert, marched into the country 

 of the rebellious chief Ngrue, Mildbraed and I left Kissenji 

 for a journey to the islands of Mugarura, Wau, and Kwidschwi. 

 We contemplated staying a week on the last-named island in 

 order to secure as comprehensive a collection of zoological and 

 botanical material as possible. Thanks to Lieutenant Knecht's 

 help, the seven boats which were needed for the transport 

 of our tent-gear and zoological and botanical material were 

 punctually on the spot. The boats are dug-outs, averaging ten 

 metres in length and one in width, which have been built by the 

 natives for many years by means of fire and a peculiar sort of 

 hatchet. Four or five narrow boards serve as seats for each 

 pair of rowers. In the stem a specially powerful oarsman acts 

 as steersman. The oars have heart-shaped blades and sweep 

 round with a long-drawn stroke. The oarsmen at Lake Kiwu 

 wore no special articles of ornament, but merely copper or brass 

 rings, etc., such as we found prevalent among the Wangilima 

 rowers on the Aruwimi. It was with somewhat mixed feelings 

 that we trusted our persons for the first time to such antediluvian 

 craft, on our journey from Ischangi, at the northern end of the 

 lake, across to Kissenji. Yet our fears that in consequence of 

 their long, cylindrical shape they might roll over on their longi- 

 tudinal axis were unfounded. The thick floor of the boat — which 

 is very heavy in comparison with the extremely thin sides — acts 

 like a leaden keel, and the narrow beam almost entirely excludes 

 any danger of overbalancing through unequal loading. Their 

 carrying capacity is amazing. We could load up every available 

 empty space in the boats after we and the oarsmen were seated 

 without detracting in the least from their seaworthiness. These 



