650 AFRICAN IRON. Chap. XXXI. 



The only other metal, besides gold, we have in abundance in 

 tins region, is iron, and that is of excellent quality. In some 

 places it is obtained from what is called the specular iron ore, 

 and also from black oxide. The latter has been well roasted in 

 the operations of nature, and contains a large proportion of the 

 metal. It occurs generally in tears or rounded lumps, and is but 

 slightly magnetic. When found in the beds of rivers, the natives 

 know of its existence by the quantity of oxide on the surface, and 

 they find no difficulty in digging it with pointed sticks. They 

 consider English iron as " rotten ;" and I have seen, when a 

 javelin of then own iron lighted on the cranium of a hippopota- 

 mus, it curled up like the proboscis of a butterfly, and the 

 owner would prepare it for future use by straightening it cold 

 with two stones. I brought home some of the hoes which Seke- 

 letu gave me to purchase a canoe, also some others obtained in 

 Kilimane, and they have been found of such good quality that 



Africa, as it is used to expel rats and serpents there. Mussonzoa dyes cloth 

 black. Mussio : the beans of this also dye black. Kangome, with flowers and 

 fruit like Mocha coffee ; the leaves are much like those of the sloe, and the seeds 

 are used as coffee or eaten as beans. Kanembe-embe : the pounded leaves used 

 as an extemporaneous glue for mending broken vessels. Katunguru is used for 

 killing fish. Mutavea Nyerere : an active caustic. Mudiacoro : also an external 

 caustic, and used internally. Kapande : another ordeal plant, but used to 

 produce diaphoresis. Karumgasura : also diaphoretic. Munyazi yields an oil, 

 and is one of the ingredients for curing the wounds of poisoned arrows. 

 Uombue : a large root, employed in killing fish. Kakumate : used in inter- 

 mittents. Musheteko : applied to ulcers ; and the infusion also internally in 

 amcnorrhoea. Inyakanyanya : this is seen in small dark-coloured crooked 

 roots of pleasant aromatic smell and slightly bitter taste, and is highly extolled 

 in the treatment of fever ; it is found in Mani'ca. Eskinencia : used in croup 

 and sore-throat. Itaca, or Itaka : for diaphoresis in fever ; this root is brought 

 as an article of barter by the Arabs to Kilimane ; the natives purchase it 

 eagerly. Mukundukundu : a decoction used as a febrifuge in the same way as 

 quinine ; it grows plentifully at Shupanga, and the wood is used as masts for 

 launches. I may here add the recipe of Brother Pedro of Zumbo for the cure 

 of poisoned wounds, in order to show the similarity of practice among the 

 natives of the Zambesi, from whom in all probability he acquired his know- 

 ledge, and the Bushmen of the Kalahari. It consists of equal parts of the roots 

 of the Calumba, Musheteko, Abutua, Batatinya, Paregekanto, Itaka, or Kapande, 

 put into a bottle and covered with common castor-oil. As I have before 

 observed, I believe the oily ingredient is the effectual one, and ought to be 

 tried by any one who has the misfortune to get wounded by a Bushman's or 

 Banyai arrow. 



