TEE LAKE VILLAGES. 647 



The inhabitants of these lake villages were afraid to let our traveller 

 approach them in this man's company, for fear of similar outrage ; at the 

 same time he would not have been able to see the lake at all unless he had 

 been accompanied by a court guide. He contented himself reluctantly with 

 getting as near as he could to one of the villages, by walking on the floating 

 vegetation, which was quite strong enough in growth to support a man, and 

 taking a good look at the houses, and their inhabitants, through his opera 

 glass. The inhabitants of these lake dwellings somewhat defy the power of 

 their suzerain, and consider themselves free from the danger of the punish- 

 ments inflicted by him on his other subjects. 



Cameron returned to Kilemba in two days, the second march being over 

 five hours through drenching rain, without a check or halt of any kind. He 

 learnt that Kasongo was still absent ; and no one appeared to know exactly 

 where he was, or when he was likely to return. Kendele, the Portuguese 

 trader, still said he should stay a month before returning. Our traveller, 

 therefore, endeavoured to obtain guides from Fume a Kenna, to show him 

 the way to Lake Kassali or Ki Konja, tbrough which the Lualaba was said to 

 flow. Her Highness kept on promising to give him men to take him to the 

 lake, and two or three times sent one, only, however, to be re-called an hour 

 or two after he had made his appearance. At last, tired of waiting, and 

 determined not to be thus befooled any longer, he set out with four or five 

 of Jumah ibn Salim's men who had been there, and so knew the way. They 

 arrived at Kowedi, a village about eight miles from the lake; but here diffi- 

 culties arose. The river Lovoi flowed between them and the lake, and the 

 chief of Kowedi said he had received orders from Kasongo to prevent their 

 crossing. Hearing that Kasongo was only two marches off, Cameron sent 

 men to find him, and obtain if possible his permission to cross the Lovoi. 

 Unfortunately, before they could reach his camp, he had set off no one knew 

 where, and they returned without having seen him. Notwithstanding these 

 obstacles, he managed to get a distant view of the lake. After waiting for 

 over three weeks, he determined to return to Kilemba, more especially as he 

 had been very ill with dysentery, and thought that milk, with which he used 

 to be liberally supplied by Jumah ibn Salim, who kept a large flock of goats, 

 would do him more good than any medicine. 



The day that he arrived at Kilemba, he met guides coming from Fume a 

 Kenna, who appeared to wish to help him, whilst in reality she, in consequence 

 of orders from Kasongo, was doing her best to thwart him. On his arrival 

 he found that during his absence Kasongo had returned and again started 

 off, leaving orders that the white man was on no account to be allowed 

 to depart without seeing him, and also desiring that notice of his arrival 

 should be sent to him at once. Kendele had all his ivory lashed and packed, 

 and said that when Kasongo came back he would require a few days to say 



