Chap. IT. MOUNT MAEANGA. 89 



numerous cutaneous diseases, with winch they are so often 

 afflicted. 



A few clumps of the palm and acacia trees appear west 

 of Morambala, on the rich plain forming the tongue of land 

 between the rivers Shire and Zambesi. This is a good place 

 for all sorts of game. The Zambesi canoe-men were afraid 

 to sleep on it from the idea of lions being there ; they pre- 

 ferred to pass the night on an island. Some black men, 

 who accompanied us as volunteer workmen from Shupanga, 

 called out one evening that a lion stood on the bank. It 

 was very dark, and we could only see two sparkling lights, 

 said to be the lion's eyes looking at us ; for here, as 

 elsewhere, they have a theory that the lion's eyes always 

 flash fire at night. Not being fireflies — as they did not move 

 when a shot was fired in their direction — they were probably 

 glowworms. 



Beyond Morambala the Shire comes winding through an 

 extensive marsh. For many miles to the north a broad 

 sea of fresh green grass extends, and is so level, that it might 

 be used for taking the meridian altitude of the sun. Ten 

 or fifteen miles north of Morambala, stands the dome-shaped 

 mountain Makanga, or Chi-kanda; several others with 

 granitic-looking peaks stretch away to the north, and form 

 the eastern boundary of the valley ; another range,- but of 

 metamorphic rocks, commencing opposite Senna, bounds the 

 valley on the west. After steaming through a portion of 

 this marsh, we came to a broad belt of palm, and other 

 trees, crossing the fine plain on the right bank. Marks of 

 large game were abundant. Elephants had been feeding 

 on the palm nuts, which have a pleasant fruity taste, and 

 are used as food by man. Two pythons were observed coiled 

 together among the branches of a large tree, and were both 



