THE RAINY SEASON 



The Portuguese, who had obtained information of 

 this, arrested him, and, after a trial, he was shot, 

 together with Cambwemba, one of his most influen- 

 tial chiefs. Since that time Gorongoza has not had 

 a native sovereign, by no means to the disadvantage 

 of its inhabitants. 



From N'hatete I reach the valley of the Inhandahl6 

 after a very severe march and pass the night in a hut 

 barricaded with special care. This is because this 

 district is infested with a multitude of lions, which 

 hunger, at this season of abstinence for the carnivora, 

 renders ready man-eaters. I can cite the instance of 

 a village where, in the course of a fortnight, the lions 

 devoured an entire family. 



The next day's march is one of the most trying ; 

 we walk, for three hours, along the Inhandahle, 

 wading into the waters close by the jaws of the croco- 

 diles. On one occasion, when endeavouring to jump 

 a ditch, I slip on the greasy soil and fall into the 

 midst of an army of carnivorous ants on the march. 

 These ants are big and formidable, being armed with 

 formidable jaws. I am covered, and have no other 

 resource but to strip myself naked; at the same time 

 cursing and shaking with rage and pain, while my 

 men pick off those which have taken up their abode 

 in my clothes, and pull out those which have attached 

 themselves to my skin like nails. Shortly afterwards 

 I reach an old fortress built in former days by the 

 Portuguese. It appears to have been an important 



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