1869.] MANYUEMA HOUSES. 33 



screened from the weather. Inside, the dwellings are clean 

 and comfortable, and before the Arabs came bugs were un- 

 known — as I have before observed, one may know where 

 these people have come by the presence or absence of these 

 nasty vermin : the human tick, which infests all Arab and 

 Suaheli houses, is to the Manyuema unknown. 



In some cases, where the south-east rains are abundant, 

 the Manyuema place the back side of the houses to this 

 quarter, and prolong the low roof down, so that the rain 

 does not reach the walls. These clay walls stand for ages, 

 and men often return to the villages they left in infancy 

 and build again the portions that many rains have washed 

 away. The country generally is of clayey soil, and suitable 

 for building. Each housewife has from twenty-five to thirty 

 earthen pots slung to the ceiling by very neat cord-swinging 

 tressels ; and often as many neatly made baskets hung up in 

 the same fashion, and much firewood. 



5th November. — In going we crossed the River Luela, of 

 twenty yards in width, five times, in a dense dripping forest. 

 The men of one village always refused to accompany us to 

 the next set of hamlets, " They were at war, and afraid of 

 being killed and eaten." They often came five or six miles 

 through the forests that separate the districts, but when we 

 drew near to the cleared spaces cultivated by their enemies 

 they parted civilly, and invited us to come the same way 

 back, and they would sell us all the food we required. 



The Manyuema country is all surpassingly beautiful. Palms 

 crown the highest heights of the mountains, and their grace- 

 fully bended fronds wave beautifully in the wind ; and the 

 forests, usually about five miles broad, between groups of 

 villages, are indescribable. Climbers of cable size in great 

 numbers are hung among the gigantic trees, many unknown 

 wild fruits abound, some the size of a child's head, and 

 strange birds and monkeys are everywhere. The soil is 

 excessively rich, and the people, although isolated by old 

 vol. it. » 



