230 ARRIVE AT ZUMBO. Chap. IX. 



CHAPTER IX. 



The waterbuck — Disaster in Kebrabasa rapids — The "Ma Robert" 

 founders — Arrival of the "Pioneer" and Bishop Mackenzie's party 

 — Portuguese slave-trade — Interference and liberation. 



We arrived at Zumbo, at the mouth of the Loangwa, 

 on the 1st of November. The water being scarcely up to 

 the knee, our land party waded this river with ease. A 

 buffalo was shot on an island opposite Pangola's, the ball 

 lodging in the spleen. It was found to have been wounded 

 in the same organ previously, for an iron bullet was im- 

 bedded in it, and the wound entirely healed. A great 

 deal of the plant Pistia stratiotes was seen floating in the 

 river. Many people inhabit the right bank about this 

 part, yet the game is very abundant. 



As we were taking our breakfast on the morning of 

 the 2nd, the Mambo Kazai, of whom we knew nothing, and 

 his men came with their muskets and large powder-horns 

 to levy a fine, and obtain payment for the wood we used 

 in cooking. But on our replying to his demand that we 

 were English, " Oh ! are you?" he said ; " I thought you 

 were Bazungu (Portuguese). They are the people I 

 take payments from : " and he apologized for his mistake. 

 Bazungu, or Azungu, is a term applied to all foreigners of 

 a light colour, and to Arabs; even to trading slaves if 

 clothed; it probably means foreigners, or visitors, — from 

 zunga, to visit or wander, — and the Portuguese were the 



