COASTING THE LAKE. 129 



conversed freely with us. They informed us that this 

 was the place where Chinsamba, a Manganja chief, had 

 once lived, but that he had been driven away by the 

 Ajawahs some time, and the place bore the name no 

 longer. They pointed to the spot where his village 

 had stood, but there was not a vestige of anything to 

 be seen now. They stated that they had heard that 

 a white man had passed into the interior about a year 

 ago, and that he had come from the southern end of 

 the lake. These men, who were Ajawahs, had not 

 seen him, they had only heard of him. On being asked 

 questions regarding the whereabouts of Marenga, they 

 said there was a great chief of that name further south, 

 but that it would take us many days to get there. 

 The latter statement we knew could not possibly be 

 correct. Having got all the information that was 

 to be gained, we coasted along close in shore, on 

 the look-out both for natives, and for a place to 

 spend the night at, as it was growing late. Shortly 

 after leaving Chinsamba nine canoes hove in sight, 

 making straight for us along the shore. We passed 

 close to them, and saw that each canoe was heavily 

 laden. On being asked where they came from, they 

 replied " Marenga," where they stated they had been 

 to buy mapira (a kind of corn). They said Ma- 

 renga was not far off, but they would not stop to talk 

 to us, being in too great a hurry. 



About 4.80 we anchored about a mile to the north 

 of the mouth of the river Lintipe, almost abreast of 

 the islands Mamkoma and Molere, which were not 

 far oiF. As the place seemed quite deserted, I went 

 ashore and stretched my limbs while dinner was being 



K 



