Cuap, XVIH. FOUNTAINS— VILLAGE OF KABINJE. 223 



northerly direction, while those hitherto crossed were all 

 running southwards. Having met with kind treatment at the 

 first village, we parted with Katema's guides, and, under the 

 direction of the inhabitants, followed a route to the X.X.W., 

 which led us down into a deep valley, along the bottom of 

 which ran a stream from the plains above. We crossed this 

 by a rustic bridge at present submerged thigh-deep by the 

 rains. The trees growing on the banks of the stream were 

 thickly planted and very high, many of them having sixty or 

 eighty feet of clean straight trunk : beautiful flowers adorned 

 the ground beneath them. Ascending the opposite side, we 

 came in two hours' time to another valley equally beautiful, 

 and also having a stream in it. It may seem at first sight mere 

 trifling to note such an unimportant thing as the occurrence 

 of a valley, but I do so inasmuch as these valleys were found 

 to belong to the water-basin of the Kasai or Loke, and as 1 

 wish to point out the manner in which the Avaters of this river 

 are supplied. 



At different points on the slopes of these valleys there are 

 oozing fountains, surrounded by clumps of the same evergeen, 

 straight, large-leaved trees which fringe the streams, and 

 generally covered with a thick mat of grassy vegetation. 

 These groups of foliage give a peculiar character to the 

 landscape, being generally of a rounded form, and the tall, 

 straight trunks contrasting strongly with the scraggy produc- 

 tions of the upper plains. There can be little doubt but that 

 the water, which stands for months on the plains, finds its 

 way into the rivulets by percolating through the soil, and 

 emerging at these oozing bogs ; and the difference in the 

 growth of the trees may be a proof that the stunted character 

 of those on the plains is owing to the drought to which they 

 are subjected during a portion of the year. 



In the evening we reached the village of Kabinje, who sent 

 us a present of tobacco, Mutokuane or "bang" (Cannabis 

 sativa), and maize, and expressed his satisfaction at the pros- 

 pect of having trade with the coast. We were now coming 

 among people who are frequently visited by the Mambari, as 

 slave- dealers. This trade entails bloodshed ; for it is necessary 

 to get rid of the older members of a family selected as victims, 

 because they are supposed to be able to give annoyance tc 



