634 LIFE OF DA VID LI VINGSTONF, LL.I). 



both, and arrived at Meketo, a fertile vale, and a scene of almost perfect rural 

 beauty. 



Whilst at Meketo, a wretch of a slave dealer brought a small boy of seven 

 or eight years old into the camp for sale. The poor child was crying bitterly, 

 and his master had him confined in a slave fork, one end of which he held in 

 his hand, and twisted and shoved the poor boy about cruelly. Cameron felt 

 inclined to thrash the master and set the slave free, but he knew that directly 

 afterwards he would be worse treated, and therefore contented himself with 

 turning the dealer in human chattels out of the camp. Leaving Meketo, 

 they passed through a moderately hilly country, crossing a number of tangled 

 streams, which it was very hard to sort into their right basins ; and just as 

 they left Uguhha and came into Ubudjwa they came upon the Rubumba, a 

 stream which, rising close to the Rugurnba, is often confounded with it, though 

 the Rubumba falls into the Luama, and the Rugumba into the Tanganyika. 



The people of Ubudjwa are tributary to Kasongo. One of the most 

 striking peculiarities of the women is the custom they have of piercing the 

 upper lip, and inserting in the hole an oval stone, or piece of wood, or bone, 

 which they keep on increasing in size to a diameter of one or two inches. 

 This sticks out in front, and gives the wearer the appearance of having a bill 

 like a duck when seen in profile, and prevents her from speaking plainly. 

 Another peculiar habit is that of wearing leather bolsters, tapering from 

 centre to end like buffalo's horns, round the waist. Sometimes a dandy 

 lady will wear two or three of the peculiar vestments, though it cannot be 

 for decency, as the barest requisites of what is considered indispensable with 

 most people are scarcely complied with. Some wear, instead of these bustles, 

 belts split in the rear into two or three parts, where they serve to keep up a small 

 piece of leather about twelve inches by eight, which, with the belt and a small 

 patch in front, constitutes the whole of a lady's dress, with the exception of 

 a few indespensable articles, such as anklets, bracelets, and necklaces. The 

 largest chief in Ubudjwa was Pakwanywa, close to whose village Cameron 

 stopped a couple of days. This chief and his wife came to visit the traveller, 

 and although her clothing was scanty in quantity, she was very dressy in her 

 get up, her apron being ornamented with beads and cowries. She also wore 

 gaiters, and bracelets from wrist to elbow, tassels just in front of her ears, 

 and several necklaces, all of good beads. Her hair was done up in a pretty 

 fashion, and ornamented with bright steel or copper ornaments; and across 

 her forehead, just below the roots of her hair, stripes of red and yellow were 

 carefully painted. Altogether she had a very effective appearance, and 

 seemed fully conscious of it, though at the same time she was a ladylike, 

 merry body. 



Two days after leaving Pakwanywa's they overtook a large body of 

 Wamerima and slaves of Syde idn Habib, who were in front of them, and 



