THE RUFU, OR EIXGANI RIVER. 951 



be forded on foot. Thus, in the rainy season, the River Wami is a torrent, 

 overflowing its banks, full of snags and difficult to navigate, from the very 

 sharp bendings, and in the dry season it is too shallow to be of practical use, 

 Lieutenant Smith, therefore, abandoned the River Wami, not without having 

 contracted a fever that seriously delayed his further proceedings and prevented 

 him from going in person to the Kingani, which he had orders to explore 

 should the "Wami fail. Under these circumstances, as it was most important 

 we should at present obtain reliable information as to the land slave route, 

 and how far inland the slaves were now passing to avoid the sultan's officials 

 on the coast, I directed Mr. Holmwood to proceed in the steam-launch up the 

 River Kingani, and give his best assistance to the missionary party." 



In a letter to Lieutenant Smith, Mr. Vice Consul Holmwood, who at- 

 tempted the navigation of the Kingani with Mr. Mackay, presents the follow- 

 ing report of that river : — 



" The Rufu, or Kingani, is, as a navigable river, at present simply worth- 

 less. Its course is so tortuous that, in ascending forty-eight geographical 

 miles from point to point, one hundred and fifteen miles of water are traversed, 

 the distance by road to the same position not being more than seventy miles. 

 Beyond the tidal limit the stream is everywhere rendered dangerous by sunk- 

 en snags and fallen trees. The river though deep, soon narrows to about 

 twenty or twenty-five yards in most places, making it very difficult for any 

 but a short boat, and one having high steam-power, to get round the numerous 

 sharp bends, where the current often increases to a rapid. Still more hazard- 

 ous is the descent ; indeed, with six oars and both screws working, the ' Daisy' 

 was more than once taken out of all control by the current, and dashed 

 against the banks or on some obstacle in mid-channel, in one instance the 

 huge limb of a tree going through her sides and the water filling the engine 

 compartment instantly. 



" By such accidents, which would always be incidental to navigation in 

 this river, we were delayed several days, and greater inconvenience and loss 

 of time were occasioned thereby than would be incurred in the ordinary acci- 

 dents of land travel. The river, moreover, is only open for navigation from 

 about 1st of June till the end of August ; for though in most years it might 

 be ascended in December or January — the rains in Usagara coming on about 

 that time — yet to be caught in a flood would be most dangerous, as not only 

 is the body of water irresistible, but large trees are swept down before it, 

 and in many places the bed is subject to be suddenly shifted. At the begin- 

 ning of September the river subsides to a fordable stream, except where deep 

 still holes have formed, or when an occasional freshet comes down during the 

 lesser rains. 



" The Jungerengere is a deep but narrow feeder of the Kingani. Confined 

 by steep banks, it is a torrent during the rains, but rapidly subsides, and 



