1867.] THE ARABS SHOW KIND FORETHOUGHT. 213 



me that he went to a salt-manufactory in that direction 

 in eight days from Kasonso's. Merere goes frequently on 

 marauding expeditions for cattle, and is instigated thereto 

 by his mother. 



What we understand by primeval forest is but seldom 

 seen in the interior here, though the country cannot be 

 described otherwise than as generally covered with inter- 

 minable forests. Insects kill or dwarf some trees, and men 

 maim others for the sake of the bark-cloth ; elephants 

 break down a great number, and it is only here and there 

 that gigantic specimens are seen : they may be expected 

 in shut-in valleys among mountains, but on the whole the 

 trees are scraggy, and the varieties not great. The different 

 sorts of birds which sing among the 'branches seem to me 

 to exceed those of the Zambesi region, but I do not shoot 

 them : the number of new notes I hear astonishes me. 



The country in which we now are is called by the Arabs 

 and natives Ulungu, that farther north-west is named 

 Marungu. Hamees is on friendly terms with the Mazitu 

 (Watuta) in the east, who do not plunder. The chief sent 

 a man to Kasonso lately, and he having received a present 

 went away highly pleased. 



Hamees is certainly very anxious to secure my safety. 

 Some men came from the N.E. to inquire about the dis- 

 turbance here and they recommend that I should go with 

 them, and then up the east side of the Lake to Ujiji ; but 

 that would ruin my plan of discovering Moero and after- 

 wards following the watershed, so as to be certain that this 

 is either the watershed of the Congo or Nile. He was not 

 well pleased when I preferred to go south and then west- 

 wards, as it looks like rejecting his counsel ; but he said 

 if I waited till his people came, then we should be able 

 to speak with more certainty. 



On inquiring if any large mountains exist in this country, 

 I was told that Moufipa, or Fipa, opposite the lower end of 



