1867.] RIVERS OF THE BABEMBA. 199 



flowing west, and thence came to the Likonibe by a high 

 ridge called Losauswa, which runs a long way westward. 

 It is probably a watershed between streams going to the 

 Ohambeze and those that go to the northern rivers. 



We have the Locopa, Loombe, Nikelenge, then Lofubii 

 or Lovu; the last goes north into Liembe, but accounts 

 .are very confused. The Chambeze rises in the Mambive 

 country, which is north-east of Moamba, but near to it. 



The forest through which we passed was dense, but 

 •scrubby ; trees unhealthy and no drainage except through 

 oozes. On the keel which forms a clay soil the rain runs off, 

 .and the trees attain a large size. The roads are not soured 

 by the slow process of the ooze drainage. At present all 

 the slopes having loamy or sandy soil are oozes, and full to 

 overflowing ; a long time is required for them to discharge 

 their contents. The country generally may be called one 

 covered with forest. 



6^ March, 1867. — We came after a short march to a 

 village on the Molilanga, flowing east into the Loombe, here 

 we meet with bananas for the first time, called, as in Lunda, 

 nkonde. A few trophies from Mazitu are hung up : Chita- 

 rpangwa had twenty-four skulls ornamenting his stockade. 

 The Babemba are decidedly more warlike than any of the 

 tribes south of them : their villages are stockaded, and have 

 deep dry ditches round them, so it is likely that Mochimbe 

 will be effectually checked, and forced to turn his energies 

 to something else than to marauding. 



Our man from Moamba here refused to go further, 

 and we were put on the Avrong track by the headman 

 wading through three marshes, each at least half a mile 

 broad. The people of the first village we came to shut 

 their gates on us, then came running after us ; but we 

 declined to enter their village : it is a way of showing their 

 independence. We made our sheds on a height in spite of 

 itheir protests. They said that the gates were shut by the 



