298 SAIL FOR JOHANNA. Chap. XI. 



like a child's rattle — and returns to his place again. One 

 by one the others perform the same feat, and continue the 

 sport for hours, striving which can produce the loudest 

 brattle while turning. These games are only played 

 during the season of courting and of the gay feathers ; the 

 merriment seems never to be thought of while the bird 

 wears his winter suit of sober brown. 



We received two mules from the Cape to aid us in trans- 

 porting the pieces of the " Lady Nyassa " past the cataracts 

 and landed them at Shupanga, but they soon perished. A 

 Portuguese gentleman kindly informed us, after both the 

 mules were dead, that he knew they would die ; for the 

 land there had been often tried, and nothing would live on 

 it — not even a pig. He said he had not told us so before, 

 because he did not like to appear officious ! 



By the time everything had been placed on board the 

 " Lady Nyassa," the waters of the Zambesi and the Shire had 

 fallen so low that it was useless to attempt taking her up to 

 the cataracts before the rains in December. Draught oxen 

 and provisions also were required, and could not be ob- 

 tained nearer than the Island of Johanna. The Portuguese, 

 without refusing positively to let trade enter the Zambesi, 

 threw impediments in the way ; they only wanted a small 

 duty ! They were about to establish a river police, and 

 rearrange the Crown lands, which have long since become 

 Zulu lands ; meanwhile they were making the Zambesi, 

 by slaving, of no value to any one. 



The Eovuma, which was reported to come from Lake 

 Nyassa, being out of their claims and a free river, we deter- 

 mined to explore it in our boats immediately on our return 

 from Johanna, for which place, after some delay at the 

 Kongone, in repairing engines, paddle-wheel, and rudder, 

 we sailed on the 6th of August. A store of naval pro- 

 visions had been formed on a hulk in Pomone Bay of that 

 island for the supply of the cruisers, and was in charge of 



