POTA MIMBA. 455 



strangers if I Lad but one ? " This was a poser, especially see- 

 ing the antagonist was a guest himself. Mokalaose was quite a 

 gentleman in his way, and was proud to display his hospitality 

 after a fashion more familiar in our country than some others. 

 One day he invited Dr. Livingstone into his house and presented 

 some beer; "I drank a little," says the doctor, "but seeing me 

 desist from taking more, he asked me if I wished a servant girl 

 to 'pota mimba;' not knowing what was meant, I offered the 

 girl the calabash of beer and told her to drink, but this was not 

 the intention. He asked if I did not wish more, and then took 

 the vessel, and as he drank the girl performed the operation on 

 himself. Placing herself in front, she put both hands round 

 his waist below the short ribs, and pressing gradually drew them 

 round his belly in front. He took several prolonged draughts, 

 and at each she repeated the operation as if to make the liquor 

 go equally over the stomach." It is possible that some of the 

 lordly topers of this land may feel greatly disturbed that it should 

 have been left for an African head man to discover this very 

 original method of increasing his capacity — or possibly no such 

 need is felt by our topers. 



Many matters are mentioned in Dr. Livingstone's journal 

 from this point around the extremity of the lake, which would 

 be of no special interest woven into a narrative of travel, but 

 which should not be omitted in justice to the man who was 

 toiling more in the interest of positive knowledge than for the 

 entertainment of himself or others; and it seems well that we 

 give the reader such extracts from his journal here as may be 

 most serviceable to us in forming a distinct idea of the region, 

 which is really one of real importance. 



"September 5. — Our march is along the shore to Ngombo 

 promontory, which approaches so near to Senga or Tsenga 

 opposite, as to narrow the lake to some sixteen or eighteen 

 miles. It is a low sandy point, the edge fringed on the north- 

 west and part of the south with a belt of papyrus and reeds ; 

 the central parts wooded. Part of the south side has high 

 sandy dunes, blown up by the south wind, which strikes it at 

 right angles there. One was blowing as we marched along 

 the southern side eastward, and was very tiresome. We 

 reached Panthunda's village by a brook called Lilole. Another 



