270 chippootoola's shirt. 



fellow had sustained a severe burn on the back. One 

 or two of the men were also badly burned on the feet 

 and legs. 



Having made our way, as it were, through the body 

 of the flames, and finding that the ground, which was 

 now covered with black ashes, was almost as hot as that 

 which we had just passed over, the natives started off 

 at a run, to get over it quickly. My feet were throb- 

 bing in my boots, the soles of which were now so hot 

 that I could bear them no longer ; so, having with 

 difficulty run about a hundred yards, I got do^vn to 

 the river, and taking these articles off, cooled both 

 them and my half-roasted soles in the water. 



" Oh !" said Moloka, as he sat by me bathing his 

 feet, " that fire no good. Manganja no good to make 

 fire this place." 



Chippootoola was close by, cursing and swearing in 

 his own language at the Manganjas, as he turned the 

 remaining rags of his only shirt over and over, finish- 

 ing the soliloquy by putting the half-burned " under 

 garment " on, and thereby causing a roar of laughter 

 among the party. 



At 7.30. P.M. I arrived at M'pemba, where I found 

 the huts which we had built when going up the river 

 burned to the ground, the poles of several still smoul- 

 dering. As we were only going to remain a few 

 hours we did not dream of building fresh ones, but 

 bivouacked as usual on the ground close to the water; 

 and for my part, I slept soundly through the night, 

 being fatigued after an unusually long march of more 

 than twenty miles. It was a lovely and bright moon- 

 light night, a heavy dew falling. Four jolly fires 



