A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



Maso and the box were in sight ; and, sure enough, 

 in a few minutes the party, including the guide with 

 the red fez, turned up smiling. They had had no 

 adventures, but had been unable to push on rapidly 

 owing to shortness of food, and had been delayed at 

 the Lukulu river, the ferrymen refusing to paddle 

 them over unless paid in advance, and they had no 

 money left. The matter was, however, referred to 

 the chief, who behaved extremely well, and ordered 

 the ferrymen to bring them across free, on the 

 ground that they had been well paid for taking over 

 our caravan, of which Maso and the Angonies 

 formed a part. 



The Angonies now joined the caravan and 

 carried our box to Broken Hill. While not 

 entirely forgiving them the anxiety they had caused 

 us, we got to like them very much ; they were 

 pleasant fellows, always the first on the road and 

 the first in camp, and were a godsend to John. 

 Maso and the guide were suitably rewarded, also an 

 extra man who helped them from the Lukulu. 



Next day we crossed the ridge dividing the valley 

 of the Lulimala from that of the Mlembo, and after 

 passing through the usual alternations of dry dambo 

 and drier forest were well pleased when at about lo 

 A.M. we suddenly struck a wide river twenty to thirty 

 yards broad, which proved to be the Mlembo, and 

 after crossing it found ourselves quite close to 

 Manga Ela's village — our destination. The chief 

 was most obliging, giving us plenty of local in- 

 formation, and explained that in place of being 

 close to the junction of the Mlembo and Luambwa 



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