1866.] MOTHER'S DEVOTION TO SICK CHILD. 57 



himself. He had plenty of powder and common cloth from 

 the Arabs, and our only chance with him was parting with 

 our finer cloths and other things that took his fancy. He 

 magnified the scarcity in front in order to induce us to buy 

 all we could from him, but he gave me an ample meal of 

 porridge and guinea-fowl before starting. 



21st June. — We had difficulties about carriers, but on 

 reaching an island in the Kovuma, called Chimiki, we found 

 the people were Makoa and more civil and willing to work 

 than the Waiyau : we sent men back to bring up the 

 havildar to a very civil headman called Chirikaloma. 



22nd June. — A poor little boy with prolapsus ani was 

 carried yesterday by his mother many a weary mile, lying 

 over her right shoulder — the only position he could find 

 ease in, — an infant at the breast occupied the left arm, and 

 on her head were carried two baskets. The mother's love 

 was seen in binding up the part when we halted, whilst the 

 coarseness of low civilization was evinced in the laugh with 

 which some black brutes looked at the sufferer. 



23rd June. — The country is covered with forest, much 

 more open than further east. We are now some 800 feet 

 above the sea. The people all cultivate maize near the 

 Rovuma, and on islands where moisture helps them, nearly 

 all possess guns, and plenty of poAvder and fine beads, — red 

 ones strung on the hair, and fine blue ones in rolls on the 

 neck, fitted tightly like soldiers' stocks. The lip-ring is 

 universal ; teeth filed to points. 



24th June. — Immense quantities of wood are cut down, 

 collected in heaps, and burned to manure the land, but this 

 does not prevent the country having an appearance of forest. 

 Divine service at 8.30 a.m. ; great numbers looking on. They 

 have a clear idea of the Supreme Being, but do not pray to 

 Him. Cold south winds prevail ; temp. 55°. One of the mules 

 is very ill — it was left with the havildar when we went back 

 to Ngozo, and probably remained uncovered at night, for as 



