Chap. XIX. MARAUDING AJAWA. 395 



men. Our first definite information about Lake Nyassa was 

 obtained from her. Seeing us taking notes, she remarked 

 that she had been to the sea, and had there seen white men 

 writing. She had seen camels also, probably among the Arabs. 

 She was the only Manganja woman we ever met, who was 

 ashamed of wearing the " pelele," or lip-ring. She retired to 

 her hut, took it out, and kept her hand before her mouth to 

 hide the hideous Hole in the lip while conversing with us. 

 All the villagers respected her, and even the headmen took a 

 secondary place in her presence. On inquiring for her now, 

 we found that she was dead. We never obtained sufficient 

 materials to estimate the relative mortality of the highlands 

 and lowlands ; but, from many very old white-headed blacks 

 having been seen on the highlands, we think it probable 

 that even native races are longer lived the higher their 

 dwelling-places are. 



We landed below at Mikena's and took observations for 

 longitude, to verify those taken two years before. The village 

 was deserted, Mikena and his people having fled to the other 

 side of the river. A few had come across this morning to work 

 in their old gardens. After completing the observations we 

 had breakfast ; and, as the last of the things were being car- 

 ried into the boat, a Manganja man came running down to his 

 canoe, crying out, " The Ajawa have just killed my comrade ! " 

 We shoved off, and in two minutes the advanced guard of a 

 large marauding party were standing with then muskets on 

 the spot where we had taken breakfast. They were evidently 

 surprised at seeing us there, and halted; as did also the 

 main body of perhaps a thousand men. "Kill them," cried 

 the Manganja; "they are going up to the hills to kill the 

 English," meaning the Missionaries we had left at Magomero. 

 But having no prospect of friendly communication with them, 

 nor confidence in Manganja's testimony, we proceeded down 



