76 UPPER SHIRE VALLEY. Chap. III. 



the meal, was proceeding to tear it, when Chitimba re- 

 marked that it was a pity to cut such a nice dress for his 

 wife, he would rather bring more meal. " All right," said 

 Sininyane ; " but look, the cloth is very wide, so see that 

 the basket which carries the meal be wide too, and add a 

 cock to make the meal taste nicely." A brisk trade sprang 

 up at once, each being eager to obtain as fine things as his 

 neighbour, — and all were in good humour. Women and 

 girls began to pound and grind meal, and men and boys 

 chased the screaming fowls over the village, until they ran 

 them down. In a few hours the market was completely 

 glutted with every sort of native food ; the prices, how- 

 ever, rarely fell, as they could easily eat what was not 

 sold. 



We slept under the trees, the air being pleasant, and 

 no mosquitoes on the hills. According to our usual plan of 

 marching, by early dawn our camp was in motion. After 

 a cup of coffee and a bit of biscuit we were on the way. 

 The air was deliciously cool, and the path a little easier 

 than that of yesterday. We passed a number of villages, 

 occupying very picturesque spots among the hills, and in 

 a few hours gained the upper terrace, 3000 feet above the 

 level of the sea. The plateau lies west of the Milanje 

 mountains, and its north-eastern border slopes down to 

 Lake Shirwa. We were all charmed with the splendid 

 country, and looked with never-failing delight on its fertile 

 plains, its numerous hills, and majestic mountains. In 

 some of the passes we saw bramble-berries growing ; and 

 the many other flowers, though of great beauty, did not 

 remind us of youth and of home like the ungainly thorny 

 bramble-bushes. We were a week in crossing the high- 

 lands in a northerly direction ; then we descended into the 

 Upper Shire Valley, which is nearly 1200 feet above the 

 level of the sea. This valley is wonderfully fertile, and 

 supports a large population. After leaving the somewhat 



