THE SLA YE TRADE ON NY ASS A, 823 



dred miles. There are many delightful spots and several nice islands ; at 

 the north-east end there is a range of mountains extending for one hundred 

 miles, and ranging from ten thousand to twelve thousand feet above the lake. 

 The water is very deep ; at several places we could not get bottom with one 

 hundred fathoms of line within the same distance from the land. There is 

 not the same dense population along the shores as formerly, vast numbers 

 being carried off by the slavers. For many miles along the north-east end 

 we saw the sites of many villages and the ground strewed with thousands of 

 skeletons. The remnant that escaped are living in villages built on piles in 

 the lake or on rocks. We went to some of them and inquired the reason. 

 It was the same old story. War was made, and those that were captured 

 were taken as slaves to the coast. The lower half of the lake is in posses- 

 sion of powerful chiefs, with their people centred round them, who combine 

 with the Arabs and capture slaves to the west inland from the lake. There 

 are five dhows which carry slaves across — not less, from all I can gather, than 

 fifteen or twenty thousand a year. When we were at one beautiful spot, 

 walking over bleached skeletons with Dr. Laws, I could not help thinking 

 and exclaiming, l Surely the devil has had possession of this land long 

 enough.' 



" Kota Kota is the principal place for Arabs and slaves. I went there, 

 and although there were more than one hundred Arabs and three dhows, yet 

 they were so terrified at the sight of a steamer there that they quickly asked 

 Dr. Laws what I intended doing with their vessels ; so you will see that they 

 are quite aware that we can command the lake. I have strictly complied 

 with your instructions, and have not interfered with the slave trade, but I 

 hope to do so some day, and don't think there is one of the gentlemen on the 

 Committee, or in Scotland I may say, if he had seen the heart-rending and 

 revolting scenes that I have, but would like to do the same. At the nearest 

 village to us, about two miles off, it was the practice before our arrival for the 

 chief, M'Ponda, when the Arabs came to him, to send an armed band, and 

 take as many of the women and children as he required, and sell them as 

 slaves, for twelve yards of calico each. It is not so now. The Arabs are 

 afraid to come near, and the poor natives feel secure, and worship the very 

 -name of an Englishman ; and I firmly believe that even our very presence 

 here is doing much good. God grant that it may continue so! 



" I have inquired of every chief we have met why he sells people. It is 

 always the same tale. 'We must, or we cannot get calico to wear.' Now, my 

 dear Sir, just fancy that a dozen Englishmen, with a few bales of calico, 

 could prevent thousands of poor creatures being slaughtered every year. If 

 any one says, 'Who is to do it?' tell them that I will, and am only now wait- 

 ing for the word of command to clear this beautiful country of these mur- 

 derers. It is only this week that some Ajana chiefs, living near Magomero, 



