CHAP, vil] his lawful successors. 221 



book ; but I cannot help hinting at the subject, as it 

 not only illustrates a phase of African life, but also 

 indicates a direction in which any adventurous fortune- 

 hunter may successfully push his addresses. For the 

 benefit of those gentlemen I must explain how matters 

 stand. Nangoro is king by virtue of his deceased first 

 wife ; by her he has no children. Chipanganjara married 

 that lady's sister, who also is dead, leaving one 

 daughter as heiress to the kingdom ; and this daughter 

 is Chipanga. She, greasy negress as she was, never 

 forgave me the " spretee injuria formse." 



I observed that some wild ducks and geese flew over 

 our encampment every morning and evening, and 

 begged Tippoo that I might be allowed to go to the 

 water where they drank. We walked a couple of 

 hours due east, and came to a long succession of vleys, 

 where droves of Nangoro's cattle were watered. There 

 was no grass near, or else I should have insisted on 

 encamping there. Beyond the vleys the thorns began 

 again. Elephants come down at times in great num- 

 bers, and do much mischief to the corn. I fancy that 

 game is very abundant in the neighbourhood of the 

 great river, although there must be a great deal of 

 cultivated ground adjacent to it. The course of the 

 river is very long, and its stream is undoubtedly swift, 

 because although a considerable slope might be 

 allowed for from Nangoro's werft northwards to its 

 bed, stni the height of the bed at that place above the 

 sea can hardly be less than 3000 feet. To the west- 

 wards of north the river is formed by the confluence of 

 three others ; and in that country the Ovabundja live : 



