•258 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



(i.e., moon) who seems to have brought an enor- 

 mous district under his control. In fact, the 

 original Urundi probably stretched from Ujiji to 

 about 2 degrees S. latitude, and was bounded on 

 the east by Tanganyika and the Kilimanyambi 

 country, and on the west by the Ku-Vuvu, and, 

 perhaps, to the south by Uhha. 



The part directly under Mwesi's control is now 

 very much reduced. Bugufu is quite free, and 

 several chiefs between it and the capital are 

 almost independent, and will no doubt form 

 separate little kingdoms shortly. 



This is due to the death of the original Mwesi, 

 who is supposed to have been translated to the 

 Moon. The people thought that I was this indi- 

 vidual returned from that elevated position, and 

 they told me that now I had returned the locusts 

 and the jigger would flee away and their land 

 would be at rest. This idea I did my best to sup- 

 press, but the porters I am afraid encouraged it 

 for financial reasons. In consequence, my march 

 was a triumphal progress ; everybody came from 

 miles to form my bodyguard, and the whole 

 population gave themselves up to dancing and 

 singing. 



From the moment I started, they thronged 

 round me in hundreds ; a view of the scenery 

 was quite impossible on account of the crowds 

 that ran along beside the caravan. The women 

 used to stop every 500 yards or so and collect in a 



