1867.] CROSSES THE RIVER LOFU. 229 



by giving his load off to a country lad while he went to 

 collect mushrooms : he will probably return to Zanzibar, 

 and be a slave to the Arab slaves after being a perpetual 

 nuisance to us for upwards of a year. 



2nd September. — When we reached the ford of the Lofu, 

 we found that we were at least a thousand feet below Chi- 

 timba's. The last six hours of our march were without 

 water, but when near to Chungu's village at the ford we 

 came to fine flowing rivulets, some ten feet or so broad. 

 Here we could see westwards and northwards the long lines 

 of hills of denudation in Nsama's country, which till lately 

 was densely peopled. Nsama is of the Babemba family. 

 Kasonso, Chitimba, Kiwe, Urongwe, are equals and of one 

 family, Urungai. Chungu is a pleasant person, and liberal 

 according to his means. Large game is very abundant 

 through all this country. 



The Lofu at the ford was 296 feet, the water flowing 

 briskly over hardened sandstone flag, and from thigh to 

 waist deep ; elsewhere it is a little narrower, but not pass- 

 able except by canoes. 



4:lh and 5th September. — Went seven hours west of the 

 Lofu to a village called Hara, one of those burned by 

 Hamees because the people would not take a peaceful mes- 

 sage to Nsama. This country is called Itawa, and Hara is 

 one of the districts. We waited at Hara to see if Nsama 

 wished us any nearer to himself. He is very much afraid 

 of the Arabs, and well he may be, for he was until lately 

 supposed to be invincible. He fell before twenty muskets, 

 and this has caused a panic throughout the country. The 

 land is full of food, though the people have nearly all fled. 

 The ground-nuts are growing again for want of reapers; 

 and 300 people living at free-quarters make no impression 

 on the food. 



9th September. — Went three hours west of Hara, and 

 came to Nsama's new stockade, built close by the old one 



