260 



ACROSS AFRICA. 



[Chap. 



August, 



1874. 



Just before coming upon the river, we passed villages in 

 which the huts had reverted to the shape of those in Waguhha 

 and Ubudjwa. Near them were regularly jDlanted groves of oil- 

 palms, surrounded by hedges of prickly cactus, and at the en- 

 trance on each side huts were built for the guardians of the 

 plantation. These groves were also protected from the attacks 

 of elephants and other wild beasts by innumerable large pit- 

 falls dug round about them, which rendered it necessary for the 

 passer-by to be very wary in his walking. 



On the evening of my arrival I entered into an agreement 

 with some natives to convey me, with a portion of my stores and 

 men, to Nyangwe by boat, while the remainder went by land. 



TO MARKET. 



Muinyi Bokhari, the poor grass-eating old man, died during 

 the night, and was at once buried by fire-light with very little 

 ceremony. 



When I went to the brink of the river, early in the morning, 

 not a canoe was to be seen. Shortly afterward they began to 

 pass from one island to another, and to haul up and set fishing- 

 traps. But not one came near us until about ten o'clock, when, 

 by dint of beckoning and shouting, some men were induced to 

 come across from an island in the middle of the stream, and, 

 after a long palaver, bi-ought three canoes. These I hired and 

 paid for on the spot, and started at once for Nyangwe. 



