314 ACROSS AFEICA. [Chap. 



November, west, having gone there to endeavor to capture his brother Dai- 

 ^^'^^- yi, who had taken refuge witli Kikonja after an unsuccessful 

 attempt on the throne. 



Of several of Kasongo's brothers who laid claim to the king- 

 dom on the death of their father, Daiyi alone continued in open 

 opposition. Some had been conquered and put to death, and 

 two had been received into favor on tendering their submission 

 to Kasongo. 



In the absence of her husband, the chiefs wife at Kowedi de- 

 clared she had no power to permit me to pass, and therefore 

 I could proceed no farther. I instantly sent both to Kasongo 

 and Fume a Kenna, requesting them to give permission for me 

 to cross the Lovoi and proceed to the lake, assuring them that 

 I would give no assistance to Daiyi. 



Nothing now remained but to wait patiently for the return 

 of my messengers, and in a few days they brought me the un- 

 satisfactory intelligence that Kasongo had broken up his camp, 

 and was moving to Kwinhata, his own settlement. I then dis- 

 patched other messengers, urging Jumah Merikani to press Ka- 

 songo to provide me with men for the journey to Kassali. 



Kwinhata, in Urua, signifies the residence of the chief, and 

 is the term always applied to his principal dwelling ; but any 

 place at which he or his head wife may chance to stay, though 

 but for a single night, becomes de facto Kwinhata during that 

 time. 



On observing much excitement among the people, many 

 smearing themselves with mud and ashes, and rushing along the 

 road leading in the direction of Kasongo's camp, I inquired the 

 cause, and found that the chief of the village was coming, and 

 shortly afterward he appeared, heralded by shouts and yells 

 from all the villagers. 



I used my utmost endeavors to persuade him to grant per- 

 mission for me to cross the Lovoi and proceed to the lake ; but 

 he replied that Kasongo had given him strict orders not to al- 

 low any person to go there on account of Daiyi's presence. If 

 he disobeyed, his village would be destroyed, and all the peo])le 

 killed. It was, therefore, evident that there was no chance of 

 assistance in this quarter. 



My attention was attracted one morning by a tinkling, simi- 



