538 A LAND TITLE. 



had only been waiting for Livingstone, whom he had heard 

 was approaching, in order that they might go on together, as 

 early as convenient for the doctor, to Ujiji. 



One quite interesting fact in connection with this district, 

 which came to the knowledge of Dr. Livingstone, is recorded 

 with characteristic minuteness, as follows : 



"An old man named Perembe is the owner of the land on 

 which Casembe has built. They always keep up the tradi- 

 tional ownership. Munongo is a brother of Perembe, and he 

 owns the country east of the Kalongosi : if any one wished 

 to cultivate land he would apply to these aboriginal chiefs 

 for it. 



" Old Perembe is a sensible man : Mohamad thinks him one 

 hundred and fifty years old. He is always on the side of liber- 

 ality and fairness ; he says that the first Casembe was attracted 

 to Mofwe by the abundance of fish in it. He has the idea of 

 all men being derived from a single pair." 



Here is another squib which throws light on the customs : 



"Set-in rains. A number of fine young girls who live 

 in Casembe's compound came and shook hands in their way, 

 which is to cross the right over to your left, and clasp them ; 

 then give a few claps with both hands, and repeat the crossed 

 clasp : they want to tell their children that they have seen me." 



But happily for the world, while sitting down in the town 

 of Casembe, Dr. Livingstone drew up a paper addressed to Lord 

 Clarendon, which not only furnishes a most valuable resume* of 

 the country along which we have followed him, but embraces 

 most interesting recital of incidents at Casembe's court, and 

 notice of Lake Moero. This letter did not reach Lord Claren- 

 don ; but finds the light when the friends are both dead, and 

 we give it in full, at the risk of repetition. 



" Town of Casembe, 10th December, 1867. 

 Lat. 9° 37' 13" South ; long. 28° East. 



"The Eight Honorable the Earl of Clarendon: 



" My Lord :— The first opportunity I had of sending a letter 

 to the coast occurred in February last, when I was at a village 

 called Molemba (lat. 10° 14' S. ; long. 31° 46' E.), in the coun- 

 try named Lobemba. Lobisa, Lobemba, Ulungu and Itawa- 

 Lunda are the names by which the districts of an elevated 



