XXIII.] VIEW OF LAKE MOHRYA. 303 



We marched over hilly and well-wooded country, with sev- November, 

 eral large villages situated in patches of dense jungle, and only i^'^'*- 

 approachable by narrow and tortuous paths closed by gate-ways 

 constructed of a series of logs planted like inverted Vs. These 

 formed a tunnel so low that it was almost necessary to creep 

 along on hands and knees to enter them, and in case of attack 

 they could be barred by falling logs arranged at the inner end 

 like a portcullis, and no enemy could well liojje to get inside. 

 Yet these villages are frequently surprised by some neighbor- 

 ing people during the absence of the men ; for although the 

 whole of Urua and its dependencies are under the nominal rule 

 of Kasongo, there are often internal dissensions and fights be- 

 tween villages and districts. 



Lake Mohrya, situated in a small basin surrounded by low 

 and woody hills, was sighted on the 1st of November, and in 

 the lake were three villages built on piles, and also a few de- 

 tached huts scattered over its surface. 



My guide gave trouble here, having a notion that his belong- 

 ing to the court entitled him to take whatever he pleased from 

 the country people. I gave him beads to purchase food, so as 

 to prevent his thieving while with me ; but upon the appear- 

 ance of a small party of men carrying large baskets of pro- 

 visions, he at once commenced plundering them, and would not 

 restore what he had stolen until I paid him for it. He declared 

 it was the custom of the country for Kasongo and his immedi- 

 ate retainers to take whatever they required from the villagers, 

 and he would not forego his rights when with me. After ar- 

 ranging this matter, I proceeded to a large village near the 

 western end of the lake, and camped. 



I asked the chief to supply me with canoes for the purpose 

 of visiting the lake villages, and he promised to try to obtain 

 some from the inhabitants, as neither he nor any of his people 

 who lived on shore j^ossessed canoes. He said there would 

 probably be great difficulty, as the lake villagers were very 

 chary of allowing strangers to visit their houses. 



He was right in his conjecture, for no canoes were forthcom- 

 ing the following day, and I had to content myself with taking 

 a good survey through my field-glasses, and making a sketch. 



The lake was small, the open surface of the water being an 



