Chap. XXIV. TRAVELLING BEVEEAGE. 481 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Travelling beverage — Good behaviour of the English sailors — Motola island 



— Starvation fare of natives — New course of march — The Bivi-rivi — A 

 couutry after the scourge of war has passed over it — Lose our way — Hospi- 

 tality of the people — Kirk's Bange — Valley of Goa or Gova — Disintegra- 

 tion of rocks in a hot climate — Our party viewed as slave-traders — Matunda 



— Eeach the heel of Lake Nyassa — Katosa's village — Ajawa migrations — 

 Native agriculture — Bishop Mackenzie's idea of Native agriculture — Cotton 



— Chinsamba — The Assyrian countenance, the true negro type — The Babisa 



— Laugh of native women — Cry of children — Course N.E. to the shores 

 of Lake Molamba — The Chia fish-net — Hoes — Savages could not have 

 continued to live, had they been entirely uninstructed — They needed a 

 superhuman instructor. 



It was the 15th of August before the men returned from 

 the ship, accompanied by Mr. Rae and the steward of the 

 Pioneer. They brought two oxen, one of which was instantly 

 slaughtered to put courage into all hearts, and some bottles 

 of wine, a present from Waller and Alington. We never 

 carried wine before, but this was precious as an expression 

 of kindheartedness on the part of the donors. If one at- 

 tempted to cany either wine or spirits, as a beverage, he 

 would require a whole troop of followers for nothing else. 

 Our greatest luxury in travelling was tea or coffee. We 

 never once carried sugar enough to last a journey/ but coffee 

 is always good, while the sugarless tea is only bearable, be- 

 cause of the unbearable gnawing feeling of want and sinking 

 which ensues if we begin to travel in the mornings without 

 something warm in the stomach. Our drink generally was 

 water, and if cool, nothing can equal it in a hot climate. 

 We usually carried a bottle of brandy rolled up in our blan- 

 kets, but that was used only as a medicine; a spoonful in 

 hot water before going to bed, to fend off a chill and fever. 



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