170 MAPOONDA. 



would not do so without orders, I had to give up the 

 idea. 



Though we were to have sailed at 4.30 a.m., for 

 certain, it was 7.30 before all were in the boat and 

 off. A nice breeze from the east by south took us 

 along for a couple of hours, but at 9.30 the oars were 

 again at work. A few roinutes after 10 a.m. we 

 entered the Shire. As we left that beautiful Lake 

 Nyassa, the Makololos cheered heartily, and bid it 

 good-bye, saying they didn't want to see it any more ; 

 and they were joined by some in the boat in this dis- 

 play of joy. My feelings were those of deep regret 

 at having seen so little of it, and I was sorry to bid 

 it farewell without completing the discovery of its 

 northern limits. As it disappeared from my gaze, I 

 made a firm resolution to return, if possible, at some 

 future period. 



A short distance from the mouth of the river, an 

 extensive village on the west bank was pointed out 

 by our guide as Mapoonda — only one of many be- 

 longing to the chief of that name, Avho, he said, 

 was very powerful. The banks were crowded with 

 natives, but further than that our approach cre- 

 ated no sensation. Doubtless they had all seen us 

 go by when on our way to the lake, but we had not 

 stopped here before. On landing we asked for the 

 chief, and were informed that he was absent, having 

 gone, about four months ago, with four large tusks to 

 buy cloth from the Arabs. A man, however, who seemed 

 to have some influence over the natives, and was evi- 

 dently their spokesman, said that Mapoonda's mother 

 lived in a village a little way off, and he volunteered to 



