18G9.] CURIOUS FISHES. 17 



yuema, forty days are required. The headmen of trading 

 parties remain with this chief (who is said by all to be a 

 very good man), and send their people out in all directions 

 to trade. Moenemogaia says that in going due north from 

 Moenekuss they come to a large river, the Eobumba, which 

 flows into and is the Luama, and that this again joins the 

 Lualaba, which retains its name after flowing with the Lufira 

 and Lofu into the still unvisited Lake S.S.W. of this: it 

 goes thence due north, probably into Mr. Baker's part of the 

 eastern branch of the Nile. When I have gone as far north 

 along Lualaba as I can this year, I shall be able to judge 

 as to the course I ought to take after receiving my goods 

 and men from Zanzibar, and may the Highest direct me, so 

 that I may finish creditably the work I have undertaken. I 

 propose to start for Manyuema on the 3rd July. 



The dagala or nsipe, a small fish caught in great numbers 

 in every flowing water, and very like whitebait, is said to 

 emit its eggs by the mouth, and these immediately burst 

 and the young fish manages for itself. The dagala never 

 becomes larger than two or three inches in length. Some, 

 putrefied, are bitter, as if the bile were in them in a good 

 quantity. I have eaten them in Lunda of a pungent bitter 

 taste, probably arising from the food on which the fish feeds. 

 Men say that they have seen the eggs kept in the sides of 

 the mouth till ready to go off as independent fishes. The 

 nghede-dege, a species of perch, and another, the ndusi, are 

 said to do the same. The Arabs imagine that fish in general 

 fall from the skies, but they except the shark, because they 

 can see the young when it is cut open. 



10th July, 1869. — After a great deal of delay and trouble 

 about a canoe, we got one from Habee for ten dotis or forty 

 yards of calico, and a doti or four yards to each of nine 

 paddlers to bring the vessel back. Thani and Zahor blamed 

 me for not taking their canoes for nothing ; but they took 

 good care not to give them, but made vague offers, which 



VOL. II. c 



