XI.] DISTURBED STATE OF THE COUNTRY. 147 



every village could turn out at least half of its men armed with January, 

 muskets. i^"^*- 



In consequence of the disturbances between Mirambo and 

 the Arabs, trade had suffered much, and the whole country was 

 very unsettled. The lawless inhabitants of villages took advan- 

 tage of the disorder which existed, and formed parties, from 

 forty to fifty strong, to loot and destroy their w^eaker neigh- 

 bors. These they attacked indiscriminately, calling themselves 

 friends of Mirambo or of the Arabs, according to which party 

 they were at the time intent on plundering. 



As water was reported to be scarce, and there was some dan- 

 ger of not finding any if steering by compass, we took the road 

 pointed out by Asmani. Soon we were clear of jungle, and en- 

 tered an apparently illimitable plain covered with long grass, 

 and having numerous small mounds crowned with wood, as 

 also solitary trees scattered over its surface. We halted near a 

 pool of muddy water, and camped on one of the little w^ooded 

 knolls. 



Game was wonderfully plentiful. We saw quail and secre- 

 tary birds, startled a large herd of antelope, and crossed a buffa- 

 lo-track — about twenty yards w^ide, and trampled into the sem- 

 blance of a plowed field — running in a dead straight line from" 

 north to south. 



Soon after starting from here for the South Ngombe nullah, 

 we passed some shallow, swampy pools, surrounded by trees and 

 thick jungle. 



I was in front, and happened, unfortunately, to be without 

 my gun, when a huge white rhinoceros waddled past me, grunt- 

 ing. He failed to notice me as I quietly slipped behind a tree, 

 but the shouts of the porters, who now sighted him, warned 

 him off, and he turned into the jungle. I follow^ed directly, my 

 rifle having arrived, and tracked him for some way, but was 

 brought to a standstill by a bed of swamp. 



The remainder of our road to the South Ngombe was swamj), 

 followed by a piece of the most beautiful plain that it is possi- 

 ble to imagine. 



Clumps of magnificent trees were grouped M'ith an effect 

 which could not have been surpassed had they been arranged 

 by the art of the landscape gardener ; while wooded knolls and 



