38 EXAMINATION OF THE RAPIDS. CHAP. II. 



racts in the world. All the information we had been able 

 to obtain from our Portuguese friends amounted to this, 

 that some three or four detached rocks jutted out of the 

 river in Kebrabasa, which, though dangerous to the 

 cumbersome native canoes, could be easily passed by a 

 steamer, and that if one or two of these obstructions were 

 blasted away with gunpowder, no difficulty would here- 

 after be experienced. After we had painfully explored 

 seven or eight miles of the rapid, we returned to the 

 vessel satisfied that much greater labour was requisite for 

 the mere examination of the cataracts than our friends 

 supposed necessary to remove them ; we therefore went 

 down the river for fresh supplies, and made preparation 

 for a more serious survey of this region. 



The steamer having returned from the bar, we set out 

 on the 22nd of November to examine the rapids of Kebra- 

 basa. We reached the foot of the hills again, late in the 

 afternoon of the 24th, and anchored in the stream. Canoe- 

 men never sleep on the river, but always spend the night 

 on shore. The natives on the right bank, in the country 

 called Shidima, who are Banyai, and even at this short 

 distance from Tette, independent, and accustomed to lord 

 it over Portuguese traders, wondered what could be our 

 object in remaining afloat, and were naturally suspicious 

 at our departing from the universal custom. 



They hailed us from the bank in the evening with 

 "Why don't you come and sleep on shore like other people?" 

 The answer they received from our Makololo, who now 

 felt as independent as the Banyai, was, " We are held to 

 the bottom with iron ; you may see we are not like your 

 Bazungu." 



This hint, a little amplified, saved us from the usual 

 exactions. It is pleasant to give a present, but that 

 pleasure the Banyai usually deny to strangers by making 

 it a fine, and demanding it in such a supercilious way, 



