XIV.] • NUMEROUS EIVERS. 183 



at my camp ran away, in abject terror, directly they saw liis March, 

 canoes approaching, although I assured them that they should i^*^*- 

 not be harmed while I was there. 



I have not mentioned the numerous rivers we passed on this 

 cruise, for a glance at the map will suffice to show that to do so 

 would render this account monotonous in the extreme. They 

 bring an enormous quantity of water into the lake, and many 

 floating islands, principally composed of vegetation like that by 

 which we crossed the Sindi ; but a few had bushes, and even 

 trees, upon them. Their appearance is most peculiar, as many 

 as fifty or sixty being sometimes in sight ; and at a distance 

 they bear a striking resemblance to vessels under sail. 



On the 23d of March we rounded Ras Kungwe, and entered 

 upon that part of the lake which had hitherto been unexplored, 

 and indeed unseen, by any white man. 



