952 LIFE OF DA VI D LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



when we reached it the stream was from twelve to twenty feet broad, with a 

 depth of about two feet. This influent, however, is unnavigable at all times, 

 even by canoes. Its chief interest lies in the great extent of its course and 

 violence of its floods. It dries up in September. Above the junction the 

 Kingani is called by the natives " Mpezi." It still continues to bear the same 

 character; the general depth of water, however, becomes diminished, and 

 the deep channel narrower. 



"We did not reach Kidunda, but saw it about fifteen miles to the south- 

 west. I had conversations with the most intelligent natives, and their de- 

 scription of the river and its banks from Kidunda to the junction of the Mgeta 

 was unvarying. The substance of the information thus obtained may here 

 be summarised. The country at and above Kidunda, though hilly in com- 

 parison with Ugaramo, is very unhealthy, and fever is as prevalent on the 

 high grounds as in the marshes adjacent; yet the hills appear to be composed 

 of stone, for the river here becomes choked with rocks and boulders. Speci- 

 mens of the latter, washed down by the floods, were seen in many of the 

 villages. The stone appeared hard, but brittle, and is used by the Waga- 

 ramo to sharpen their arrow heads and knives. 



"It was considered just possible that, with good luck among the rocks, 

 your boat might reach the Mgeta in the months of June and July ; but, from 

 the description of the rapids and divided channels met with in this part of 

 the river, I am inclined to doubt the practicability of ascending beyond 

 Kidunda in an ordinary steam-launch ; indeed, I was told canoes were often 

 lost in attempting it. The Mgeta River, though a larger stream than the 

 Jungerengere, is equally unnavigable under any conditions. The Wakutu, 

 who inhabit this district, have become more reduced by the late Maviti in- 

 cursion than even their neighbours. Ukutu, the country through which the 

 upper portion of the Kingani, from the junction of the Mgeta to its source, 

 passes, is not only denuded of population, but by all accounts possessed of as 

 deadly a climate as is to be found in Africa. Such is the general description 

 of the Kingani and Jungerengere rivers. That of the adjacent country and 

 its inhabitants will best be illustrated by a brief sketch of our trip, and par- 

 ticularly of the people we came in contact with. 



" On the 6th of July last, Mr. Mackay and myself left Zanzibar in the 

 Society's yacht ' Highland Lassie,' having your steam-launch 'Daisy' in tow. 

 We reached Bagamoyo on the 7th, and entered the Kingani the next after- 

 noon, after engaging a native pilot and guide. Our party had been augmented 

 by the addition of Mr. H. Hartnell, mate of the steam-yacht, whom Captain 

 Cannan had considerately placed at our disposal when we found all hopes of your 

 being able to join were at an end. His services were most valuable, and he had 

 little reprieve from duty at the helm, except when superintending the wood-cut- 

 ting, or, working hardest of all, in getting things in order after an accident. 



