A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



hour and a half, and we at once commenced our 

 climb, the altitude at the bottom being two 

 thousand three hundred feet. Though steep in 

 places and with a much longer ascent, the rise was 

 far less perpendicular than that from Mua to the 

 Dedza plateau in Nyasaland, and the calico sashes 

 were not found really necessary, except just at first. 

 After a steep pull of about one thousand feet on a 

 winding track we came upon water and decided 

 to halt for breakfast. It was fortunate we had 

 provided ourselves with a change of clothes, for 

 we were saturated with perspiration. A slight dip 

 in the ground and a few rocks made a secluded 

 dressing room for me. 



After breakfast we were able to use our 

 machillas, and continued mounting, with occasional 

 depressions, through charming scenery, until, 

 about noon — at an altitude of four thousand seven 

 hundred feet — the summit was attained ; and finding 

 here a pleasant stream, we halted for lunch and a 

 rest. 



Breakfast time had not offered us much respite 

 from the heat ; but this spot, though the sun itself 

 was hot, felt delightfully cool and pleasant, and the 

 green vegetation was very satisfying to the eye. 

 The hills and forests through which we had mounted 

 were extremely pretty ; and looking back at inter- 

 vals, glorious views over the low country we had 

 just quitted had been obtained. 



Having now reached the plateau which forms 

 the top of the Muchinga range — the highest point 

 within three miles of Mpika is about five thousand 



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