CHIMB AZO. 313 



At 5.30 we passed Dombo Island, and shortly after 

 we ran ashore on a sandbank in the middle of the river. 

 Here we stuck fast, and all attempts to get the boat 

 off proved of no avail for half an hour, when a pass- 

 ing canoe full of natives luckily came to our assistance 

 and got us off. Camping at 7 p.m. by the river side, 

 we again became the unhappy victims of millions of 

 mosquitoes. Daylight saw us off next morning, as we 

 were anxious to reach Morumballa before night. In 

 the afternoon it blew a heavy gale of wind for a cou- 

 ple of hours, and gave us plenty to do in the little 

 craft, which was very deep in the water. 



At, six o'clock we reached the village of Chimbazo, 

 situated on the west bank of the Shire, under the 

 north end of Morumballa. The chief very civilly 

 came to see me, bringing the customary present. 

 The scenery along the last few miles of the river was 

 indeed a happy change from the horrible marshes. 

 As we approached the mountain under whose base the 

 Shire flows, winding and turning in every direction, 

 the land, which was considerably wooded, became 

 high and undulating on the east side, while the park- 

 like appearance of the fertile plains on the west, which 

 were studded with groves of trees and villages, added 

 to the improved appearance of the landscape. 



As the chief informed me that the rhinoceros was 

 to be found up the sides of Morumballa mountain, I 

 determined to have a trial the following day ; and a 

 guide, who knew the haunts of those animals, was 

 promised. It blew and rained all night, in conse- 

 quence of which I accepted the offer of a hut, and 

 was very comfortable. The people seemed as if 



