CHAP. XIV. RETURN TO THE MUKURU-MADSE. 401 



destruction of their stores, for them to raise crops of grain 

 on the adjacent lands. To deal with them for a few heads 

 of maize was the hungry bargaining with the famished, 

 so we hastened on southwards as fast as the excessive heat 

 would allow us. It was impossible to march in the middle 

 of the day, the heat was so intolerable ; and we could not 

 go on at night, because, if we had chanced to meet any 

 of the inhabitants, we should have been taken for 

 marauders. 



We had now thunder every afternoon ; but while 

 occasional showers seemed to fall at different parts, none 

 fell on us. The air was deliciously clear, and revealed 

 all the landscape covered everywhere with forest, and 

 bounded by beautiful mountains. On the 31st October 

 we reached the Mukuru-Madse, after having travelled 660 

 geographical miles, or 760 English miles in a straight 

 line. This was accomplished in fifty-five travelling days, 

 twelve miles per diem on an average. If the numerous 

 bendings and windings, and ups and downs of the paths 

 could have been measured too, the distance would have 

 been found at least fifteen miles a day. 



The night we slept at the Mukuru-Madse it thundered 

 heavily, but, as this had been the case every afternoon, 

 and no rain had followed, we erected no shelter, but 

 during this night a pouring rain came on. When very 

 tired a man feels determined to sleep in spite of every- 

 thing, and the sound of dropping water is said to be 

 conducive to slumber, but that does not refer to an African 

 storm. If, when half asleep in spite of a heavy shower on 

 the back of the head, he unconsciously turns on his side, 

 the drops from the branches make such capital shots into 

 his ear, that the brain rings again. 



We were off next morning, the 1st of November, as 

 soon as the day dawned. In walking about seven miles to 

 the ship, our clothes were thoroughly dried by the hot 



2d 



