1809.] AFRICAN WIRE FENCES. 37 



parrots build thereon, and the men make a stair up 150 feet 

 by tying climbing plants (called Binayoba) around, at about 

 four feet distance, as steps : near the confluence of the 

 Luamo, men build huts on this same species of tree for 

 safety against the arrows of their enemies. 



21st December. — The strong thick grass of the clearances 

 •dries down to the roots at the surface of the soil, and fire 

 does it no harm. Though a few of the great old burly 

 giants brave the fires, none of the climbers do : they dis- 

 appear, but the plants themselves are brought out of the 

 forests and ranged along the plantations like wire fences 

 to keep wild beasts off ; the poles of these vegetable wire 

 hedges often take root, as also those in stages for maize. 



22nd, 23rd, and 2-Wi December. — Mohamad presented a 

 goat to be eaten on our Christmas. I got large copper 

 bracelets made of my copper by Manyuema smiths, for they 

 are considered very valuable, and have driven iron bracelets 

 quite out of fashion. 



25th December. — We start immediately after Christmas : 

 I must try with all my might to finish my exploration 

 before next Christmas. 



26th December. — I get fever severely, and was down all 

 day, but we march, as I have always found that moving is 

 the best remedy for fever: I have, however, no medicine 

 whatever. "We passed over the neck of Mount Kinyima, 

 north-west of Moenekuss, through very slippery forest, and 

 encamped on the banks of the Lulwa .Rivulet. 



28th December. — Away to Monangoi's village, near the 

 Luamo River, here 150 or more yards wide and deep. A 

 man passed us, bearing a human finger wrapped in a leaf ; 

 it was to be used as a charm, and belonged to a man killed 

 in revenge : the Arabs all took this as clear evidence of 

 cannibalism : I hesitated, however, to believe it. 



29th, 30th, and 31st December. — Heavy rains. The Luamo 

 is called the Luasse above this. We crossed in canoes. 



