88 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. IV. 



much farinaceous or starchy matter exists, and the bowels 

 are regulated by the mixture : experience has taught them 

 the need of a fatty ingredient. 



[Dr. Livingstone seems to have been anxious to procure 

 all the information possible from the Arabs respecting the 

 powerful chief Merere, who is reported to live on the borders 

 of the Salt Water Lake, which lies between Lake Tanganyika 

 and the East Coast. It would seem as if Merere held the 

 most available road for travellers passing to the south-west 

 from Zanzibar, and although the Doctor did not go through 

 his country, he felt an interest no doubt in ascertaining as 

 much as he could for the benefit of others.] 



Goambari is a prisoner at Merere's, guarded by a thousand 

 or more men, to prevent him intriguing with Monyungo, 

 who is known as bloodthirsty. In the third generation 

 Charura's descendants numbered sixty able-bodied spear- 

 men, Garahenga or Ivimamure killed many of them. 

 Charura had six white attendants with him, but all died 

 before he did, and on becoming chief he got all his pre- 

 decessor's wives. Merere is the son of a woman of the 

 royal stock, and of a common man, hence he is a shade 

 "or two darker than Charura's descendants, who are very 

 light coloured, and have straight noses. They shave the 

 head, and straight hair is all cut off; they drink much 

 milk, warm, from the teats of the cows, and think that it is 

 strengthening by its heat. 



December 23rd. — Bambarre people suffer hunger now 

 because they will not plant cassava ; this trading party eats 

 all the maize, and sends to a distance for more, and the 

 Manyuema buy from them with malofu, or palm-toddy. 

 Rice is all coming into ear, but the Manyuenia planted none ; 

 maize is ripening, and mice are a pest. A strong man 

 among the Manyuema does what he pleases, and no chief 



