DRAINAGE OF I<ONDA. 42$ 



both here and elsewhere, that the drainage of Londa falls 

 to the north and then runs westward. The countries of 

 Luba and Mai are evidently lower than this, and yet this 

 is of no great altitude — probably not much more than 3500 

 feet above the level of the sea. Having here received 

 pretty certain information on a point in which I felt much 

 interest, namely, that the Kasai is not navigable from the 

 coast, owing to the large waterfall near the town of Mai,, 

 and that no great kingdom exists in the region beyond,, 

 between this and the equator, I would fain have visited 

 Matiamvo. This seemed a very desirable step, as it is 

 good policy as well as right, to acknowledge the sovereign 

 of a country ; and I was assured, both by Balonda and 

 native traders, that a considerable branch of the Zambesi 

 rises in the country east of his town, and flows away to the 

 south. The whole of this branch, extending down even 

 to where it turns westward to Masiko, is probably placed 

 too far eastwards on the map. It was put down when I 

 believed Matiamvo and Cazembe to be further east than 

 I have since seen reason to believe them. All, being 

 derived from native testimony, is offered to the reader 

 with diffidence, as needing verification by actual explorers. 

 The people of that part, named Kanyika and Kanyoka* 

 living on its banks, are represented as both numerous and 

 friendly, but Matiamvo will on no account permit any 

 white person to visit them, as his principal supplies of 

 ivory are drawn from them. Thinking that we might 

 descend this branch of the Zambesi to Masiko, and thence 

 to the Barotse, I felt a strong inclination to make the 

 attempt. The goods, however, we had brought with us to 

 pay our way, had, by the long detention from fever and 

 weakness in both myself and men, dwindled to a mere 

 fragment ; and, being but slightly acquainted with the 

 Balonda dialect, I felt that I could neither use persuasion 

 nor presents to effect my object. From all I could hear 

 of Matiamvo, there was no chance of my being allowed t©> 

 proceed through his country to the southward. If I had 

 gone merely to visit him, all the goods would have been 

 expended by the time I returned to Cabango ; and we 

 had not found mendicity so pleasant on our way to the 

 north, as to induce us to desire to return to it. 



The country of Matiamvo is said to be well peopled, 

 but they have little or no trade. They receive calico, salt, 

 gunpowder, coarse earthenware, and beads, and give in. 



