PARTY OF AJAWAHS. 271 



burned round the bivouac, and Moloka, as usual, lay 

 down to rest close outside my mosquito-curtains. 

 The moon had not set next morning when Chinsoro, 

 who had received orders for an early start, awoke me 

 with the announcement, *' Massa, coffee ready." 



Knowing there was but little sport between the 

 Lesungue and the foot of the Murchison Cataracts, 

 and having given up the idea I had once entertained 

 of making a trip up the Makurumadsee river, in con- 

 sequence of having found the Lesungue so devoid of 

 game, as well as from the fact of Moloka saying that 

 when we got to Chibisa he knew a place where he could 

 show me plenty of elephants, I determined to make a 

 forced march to Matiti, a distance of at least twenty- 

 two miles, where I expected to find Mr. Young and 

 the remainder of the party putting the boat together. 

 This was the reason for such an early start, and we 

 had got over some three miles when daylight dawned. 

 Close to where we had been sleeping the tracks of 

 a large lion were plainly visible in the ashes which 

 covered the ground, showing that he had walked some 

 distance down the river's bank before taking a drink, 

 and turning into the jungle. 



About 8 A.M. we passed through Patamanga, where 

 I met a large party of Ajawahs, who had been em- 

 ployed by Mr. Young to carry the things down to 

 Matiti, on their way home. They numbered about a 

 hundred and fifty, and seemed as jolly as sandpipers, 

 all having received the promised cloth as payment for 

 their labour. They informed me that the party had 

 only arrived at Matiti the day before, having made 

 slow marches down, and reported all well. I reached 



