290 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



roughly all that portion which is below 3,000 feet 

 in altitude (see chap. xi.). As usual, however, 

 this low-lying part is probably very fertile and 

 capable of growing eocoanut-palms, cotton, sugar, 

 and other valuable things. 



At Karonga I took the steamer Hermann von 

 Wissman to Fort Johnston, with a pleasant visit 

 to Likoma en route, and then descended the Shire 

 with painful slowness in a boat to Matope. From 

 here I was again carried in a hammock to Man- 

 dala. 



During my stay at Mandala I was in a continual 

 state of bewilderment at the progress and level of 

 civilisation already reached in so young a colony. 



I then decided to try and see something of 

 Mlanje, but on arrival had a severe fever, which 

 left me too weak to do any work in the rainy 

 season, which was then just beginning. The 

 Scotch missionaries at Mlanje were very kind 

 indeed to me during this illness. I then went 

 on to Mr. Moir's station at Lauderdale, where I 

 spent a happy Christmas, and, finding myself 

 incapable of serious work, started for Chiromo. 



This short hammock journey was marked by two 

 curious experiences. 



I had the narrowest escape from drowning which 

 [ have ever experienced in crossing the Likum- 

 buliyu. After a little difficulty this torrent, which 

 was very deep and extremely rapid, was success- 

 fully crossed by Mabruki Sirkali, to whom we had 



