XV.] A SAND -SPIT. 187 



We landed on the island, and obtained some fish from the in- March, 

 habitants in exchange for palm-oil, of which they are very fond. i^'^*- 

 It is very thickly j^opnlated, fertile and well cultivated, and the 

 huts, standing alone in their own provision-grounds, and shaded 

 by a sycamore or some otlier giant of the forest, gave a look 

 of peaceful security which had been wanting since leaving Ka- 

 wele. Opposite on the main-land there was only the village of 

 the chief ; but on both the island and the main the fan-palm 

 was very plentiful. 



Birds of many knids were numerous, and a handsome pen- 

 ciled brown lily - trotter, with white head and neck, walked 

 about on the floating leaves of the lilies — with which much of 

 the surface of the water was covered — looking among the blos- 

 soms for its meal of insects. 



At the end of the strait a sand-spit almost joins the island 

 to the main, and here among a mass of reeds was the landing- 

 place. Several narrow passages admitted tlie small canoes of 

 the natives, numbers of which were flitting about from point 

 to point. Our large boats, however, could only reach the shore 

 by dint of shoving and hauling, and breaking down the reeds 

 on either side ; and so thickly did they grow that the men were 

 able to get out and shove the boat along while standing on the 

 broken-down reeds. 



Ponda was the name of the chief, and Karyan Gwina that of 

 the village. Ponda was one of two sons of a chief who for- 

 merly ruled, or claimed to rule, over the whole of Kawendi ; 

 but, on the old man's death, it was divided into many factions, 

 and the sons contented themselves with settling on the shores 

 of the lake. After a time they qii9,rreled, and Ponda, being the 

 weaker, left his brother in possession, and founded this village, 

 which was large, and strongly fortified with ditches and pali- 

 sades. 



Tlie people were very jealous about allowing strangers inside. 

 Indeed, a party of Wanyamwezi sent by Mkasiwah, chief of 

 Unyanyembe, with a present of cattle for his daughter, who had 

 married Ponda, were obliged to camp outside. Perhaps this 

 was partly owing to the Wanj^amwezi having, unfortunately, 

 had the present stolen from them on the road by the Warori. 



Having obtained permission to enter, I went to the village. 



