CHAP. XII. GUINEA-FOWLS COTTON PATCH ES. 335 



together pierced through by these seeds, and thus made, 

 as it were, into wings to carry them to any soil suited 

 to their growth. 



We always follow the native paths, though they are 

 generally not more than fifteen inches broad, and so often 

 have deep little holes in them, made for the purpose of 

 setting traps for small animals, and are so much obscured 

 by the long grass, that one has to keep one's eyes on the 

 ground more than is pleasant. In spite, however, of all 

 drawbacks, it is vastly more easy to travel on these tracks 

 than to go straight over uncultivated ground, or virgin 

 forest. A path usually leads to some village, though 

 sometimes it turns out to be a mere game track leading 

 nowhere. 



In going north, we came into a part called Mpemba 

 where Chibisa was owned as chief, but the people did not 

 know that he had been assassinated by the Portuguese 

 Terera. A great deal of grain was lying round the hut, 

 where we spent the night. Very large numbers of 

 turtledoves feasted undisturbed on the tall stalked niapira 

 ears, and we easily secured plenty of fine fat guinea-fowls 

 — now allowed to feed leisurely in the deserted gardens. 

 The reason assigned for all this listless improvidence was 

 " There are no women to grind the corn — all are dead." 



The cotton patches in all cases seemed to have been so 

 well cared for, and kept so free of weeds formerly, that, 

 though now untended, but few weeds had sprung up ; and 

 the bushes were thus preserved in the annual grass burn- 

 ings. Many baobab-trees grow in different spots, and the 

 few people seen were using the white pulp found between 

 the seeds to make a pleasant subacid drink. 



On passing Malango, near the uppermost cataract, not 

 a soul was to be seen ; but, as we rested opposite a beau- 

 tiful tree-covered island, the merry voices of children at 

 play fell on our ears — the parents had fled thither for pro- 



