192 



ACROSS AFRICA. 



[Chap. 



April, 

 1874. 



The wind and sea increased to such an extent that we were 



subsequently obliged to move to the main-land. 



Here we remained a day to procure food, but a few sweet-po- 

 tatoes and beans were our only reward. 

 In the afternoon I shot a large Lepido- 

 siren, called by the natives Singa; but 

 it was so loathsome to look at that no 

 one would touch it, and the peoj^le de- 

 clared it was poisonous. 



Leaving this place, we rounded Has 

 Mpimbwe, a promontory formed of enor- 

 mous masses of granite piled on each 

 other in the wildest confusion, and look- 

 ing as though some race of Titans had 

 commenced building a breakwater. 



In the early morning, just after we 

 started, there was a most curious optical 

 illusion. The summits of the mount- 

 ains on the west of the lake had the 

 exact appearance of being covered with 

 snow; and while I was wondering and 

 looking at them steadily through the 

 glasses, the white began to disappear, 

 and then I discovered the cause of the 

 .K M.sBT KAMm. -|ii,^gio„_ ^pj^^ ^|^^^^g^ horizoutal rays of 



the rising sun had been reflected by the lower sides of the 

 clouds down on the tops of the mountains, which consequently 

 looked quite wliite, in contrast to the lower parts, which were 

 still in deep shadow. It is just possible that many reports of 

 snow-capped mountains might be ascribed to this cause. 



Off Eas Mpimbwe there were very many rocks in all di- 

 rections just half awash, and dangerous work it was passing 

 through them. 



About noon we camped on the north side of Ras Kambemba, 

 off which lies a small island of the same name ; and shortly 

 after settling down I heard a cry that some game was in camp. 

 On going out with my rifle, I found that some l)uffalo had been 

 near, but had been completely scared by the noise. 



In returning my rifle to its place against the tent-pole, my 



AN IMI \1-.IT WT 



