1868.] DESCRIPTION OF LAKE BAXGWEOLO. 315 



once. Masantu is an oldish man ; had never prayed to the 

 Great Father of all, though he said the footsteps of "Mungu," 

 or Mulungu, could be seen on a part of Lifunge Island : a 

 large footstep may also be seen on the rock at the Cham- 

 beze, about fifteen inches long. He informed us that the 

 Lake is much the largest at the part called Bangweolo. 



The country around the Lake is all flat, and very niuch 

 denuded of trees, except the Motsikiri or Mosikisi, which 

 has fine dark, dense foliage, and is spared for its shade and 

 the fatty oil yielded by its seeds : we saw the people boil- 

 ing large pots full of the dark brown fat, which they use to 

 lubricate their hair. The islands, four in number, are all 

 flat, but well peopled. The men have many canoes, and 

 are all expert fishermen ; they are called Mboghwa, but are 

 marked on the forehead and chin as Babisa, and file the 

 teeth to points. They have many children, as fishermen 

 usually have. 



21st July. — Canoe-men are usually extortionate, because 

 one cannot do without them. Mapuni claims authority over 

 them, and sent to demand another fathom that he may give 

 orders to them to go with us : I gave a hoe and a string of 

 beads instead, but he insisted on the cloth, and kept the hoe 

 too, as I could not afford the time to haggle. 



Chipoka spring water at 9 a.m. 75° 

 Lake water at same time 71 



Chipoka spring at -i p.m. 74° 5' 

 Lake water at same time 75° 



air 71° 5'; wet bulb 70°. 



No hot fountains or earthquakes are known in this 

 region. The bottom of the Lake consists of fine white sand, 

 and a broad belt of strong rushes, say 100 yards wide, shows 

 shallow water. In the afternoons quite a crowd of canoes 

 anchor at its outer edge to angle ; the hooks are like ours, 

 but without barbs. The fish are perch chiefly, but others 

 similar to those that appear in the other Lakes are found, 



