294 ACROSS AFEICA. [Chap. 



October, bracelets and anklets. The fashion of dressing the hair was 

 ^^'^^- rather different from that outside Urua, but it was still worked 

 elaborately, and decorated with iron ornaments. 



Another march in the wrong direction, along the northern 

 base of the Nyoka hills, had to be undergone the day following ; 

 and, all the water-holes being dry, we were compelled to con- 

 tinue our walk until late in the afternoon, suffering from the 

 pangs of thirst. "We had become so accustomed to constant 

 streams of running water since leaving the Tanganyika, that we 

 had failed to take the precaution of carrying a supply with us. 



At last we reached Ilanyoka, a village where the only obtain- 

 able water was of a dark-green color and as thick as pea-soup ; 

 but, notwithstanding its objectionable appearance and still more 

 nauseous taste, we were glad to drink it, for 



" The way was long, the day was hot, 

 The pilgrims were a thirsty lot." 



The mystery of Mona Kasanga's behavior in dragging us east- 

 ward was now revealed. lie had doubtless heard of his father 

 having neglected to pay tribute to Kasongo, and that he, accord- 

 ing to his custom on such occasions, had looted the village, and 

 killed most of the inhabitants. Mona Kasanga's father and 

 brothers were among those killed ; but his mother, who had es- 

 caped, met her son at this village soon after we arrived. 



Mona Kasanga refused to go any farther, and M'Nchkkulla, 

 being a head-man of Mukalombo, said he must first visit that vil- 

 lage, which was three or four miles from Hanyoka. On our ar- 

 riving on its outskirts, the whole of the inhabitants turned out, 

 and some hoisted M'iSrchkkulla on their shoulders and chaired 

 him round the place, yelling and shouting, while he looked very 

 foolish and uncomfortable. This performance being ended, we 

 were conducted to a camping-place destitute of all shade, near 

 a pool of muddy water, and we gladly shifted to a more suita- 

 ble spot the following day. 



Mona Kasanga hurried off with his mother and wife, being 

 anxious to put as great a distance as possible between himself 

 and Kasongo. 



The duty of guiding us to Kasongo's now devolved on 

 M'Nchkkulla, who, in company with the chief of the village. 



