1873.] THE LOTINGILA RIVER. 203 



Heavy rain. One canoe sank, wetting everything in her. 

 The leaks in her had been stopped with clay, and a man 

 sleeping near the stern had displaced this frail canlking. 

 We did not touch the fish, and I cannot conjecture who has 

 inspired fear in all the inhabitants. 



1th April. — Went on S.W., and saw two men, who guided 

 us to the River Muanakazi, which forms a connecting link 

 between the Eiver Lotingila and the Lolotikila, about 

 the southern borders of the flood. Men were hunting, and 

 we passed near large herds of antelopes, which made a 

 rushing, plunging sound as they ran and sprang away 

 among the waters. A lion had wandered into this world 

 of water and ant-hills, and roared night and morning, as 

 if very much disgusted : we could sympathise with him ! 

 Near to the Muanakazi, at a broad bank in shallow water 

 near the river, we had to unload and haul. Our guides 

 left us, well pleased with the payment we had given 

 them. The natives beating a drum on our east made us 

 believe them to be our party, and some thought that they 

 heard two shots. This misled us, and we went towards the 

 sound through papyrus, tall rushes, arums, and grass, till 

 tired out, and took refuge on an ant-hill for the night. 

 Lion roaring. We were lost in stiff grassy prairies, froni 

 three to four feet deep in water, for five hours. We fired a 

 gun in the stillness of the night, but received no answer ; 

 so on the 8th we sent a small canoe at daybreak to ask for 

 information and guides from the village where the drums 

 had been beaten. Two men came, and they thought like- 

 wise that our party was south-east; but in that direction 

 the water was about fifteen inches in spots and three feet in 

 others, which caused constant dragging of the large canoe 

 all day, and at last we unloaded at another branch of the 

 Muanakazi with a village of friendly people. We slept 

 there. 



All hands at the large canoe could move her only a 



