CHALLENGED BY NATIVES. 101 



The country here is more interesting to travel 

 through. A range of hills is to be seen on either side, 

 and the undulating ground is in many places thickly 

 wooded to the water's edge. On nearing Lake Pama- 

 lombe the land to the right becomes flatter, but the 

 range on the left still continues with us. Abundance 

 of game is reported all along here, from the elephant 

 to the smallest antelope ; but as we didn't stop till late, 

 when we were blessed with anything like a fair wind, 

 there was not much chance of sport. It was only when 

 there was no wind, and we were unable to make way 

 against the current, that there was any opportunity for 

 shooting. Here the current is so very little as to be 

 almost imperceptible. 



About five o'clock we were challenged by a small 

 party on the west bank, and on being answered with 

 the usual " Maronda ! maronda !" they invited us to 

 come ashore, promising fowls and rice. We landed 

 at once. As we approached the bank, close to where 

 their village stood amongst a grove of magnificent 

 trees, the women ran away, but the men received us 

 without betraying any fear ; and as the water was too 

 shallow for our boat to be brought sufficiently near 

 for us to land without getting wet, they came and 

 carried Mr. Young and myself ashore on their shoul- 

 ders, and subsequently placed a canoe at our dis- 

 posal. They informed us that we were within a very 

 short distance of Lake Pamalombe, which they call 

 " Piccaninnee Nyassa " (Little Nyassa or Sea). We 

 were soon good friends, and arranged to spend the 

 night here. The women and children came back, 

 and brought us some very good fish. These people 



