148 



ACROSS AFRICA. 



[Chap. 



January, 

 1874. 



stretches of green grass, and a background of heavy timber 

 along the banks of the nullah, completed the scene. 



The South ]S"gombe— not to be confounded with the North- 

 ern Ngombe, which drains the country to the north of Taborah 

 — is one of the southern affluents of the Malagarazi Kiver, and 

 is joined by the Wale nullah, which rises a few miles west of 

 Itumvi. IS'ear the point at which we crossed, it lay in long 

 reaches of four or five miles in length, divided from each other 

 only by sand-bars about fifty yards wide. Its waters afford a 

 home to numerous hippopotami and crocodiles, and are covered 

 with a profusion of immense water-lilies. In times of flood, 

 it spreads about three miles on either side, and pours a vast 



ANTS NEST. 



quantity of water into the Malagarazi. Our camp was pitched 

 on its western bank, in a clear space of grassy turf surrounded 

 by gigantic trees, festooned to their topmost branches by enor- 

 mous creepers. 



The men being tired, after our two long marches, I decided 

 on a day's halt, and gave them leave to go out shooting. The 

 surrounding country was full of game ; but I found it very 

 wild, and so frightened by the number of my own people, as 

 well as hunting-parties of Wagara, who were about, that I only 

 shot a boar, which, being an unclean animal, none of my men 

 would bring in. 



During my ramble I noticed the remains of a lion, buffalo, 

 and crocodile, lying together in a heap, and was told a curious 



