1873.] RETURNS TO CHITUNKUE'S. 273 



do the work of five. Tried, lunars in vain. Either sun or 

 moon in clouds. On the Luena. 



4th February. — Return to camp on the rivulet with much 

 Methonica gloriosa on its banks. Our camp being on its 

 left bank of 26th. It took long to cross the next river, 

 probably the Kwale, though the elephants' footprints are 

 all filled up now. Camp among deserted gardens, which 

 afford a welcome supply of cassava and sweet potatoes. The 

 men who were sent on before us slept here last night, and 

 have deceived us by going more slowly without loads than 

 we who are loaded. 



5th February. — Arrived at Chitunkue's, crossing two broad 

 deep brooks, and on to the Malalenzi, now swollen, having at 

 least 200 yards of flood and more than 300 yards of sponge. 

 Saluted by a drizzling shower. We are now at Chitunkue's 

 mercy. 



We find the chief more civil than we expected. He said 

 each chief had his own land and his own peculiarities. He 

 was not responsible for others. We were told that we had 

 been near to Matipa and other chiefs : he would give us 

 guides if we gave him a cloth and some powder. 



We returned over these forty-one miles in fifteen hours, 

 through much deep water. Our scouts played us false both 

 in time and beads: the headmen punished them. I got 

 lunars, for a wonder. Visited Chitunkubwe, as his name 

 properly is. He is a fine jolly-looking man, of a European 

 cast of countenance, and very sensible and friendly. I gave 

 him two cloths, for which he seemed thankful, and pro- 

 mised good guides to Matipa's. He showed me two of 

 Matipa's men who had heard us firing guns to attract one 

 of our men who had strayed ; these men followed us. It 

 seems we had been close to human habitations, but did not 

 know it. We have lost half a month by this wandering, 

 but it was all owing to the unfriendliness of some and the 

 fears of all. I begged for a more northerly path, where the 



VOL. II. T 



