CROSSING THE I^OANGWA. 547 



tied to the bank. The part we crossed was about a mile 

 from the confluence, and, as it was now flooded, it seemed 

 upwards of half a mile in breadth. We passed all our 

 goods first on to an island in the middle, then the re- 

 maining cattle and men ; occupying the post of honour, 

 I, as usual, was the last to enter the canoe. A number of 

 the inhabitants stood armed all the time we were em- 

 barking. I showed them my watch, lens, and cither 

 things to keep them amused, until there only remained 

 those who were to enter the canoe with me. I thanked 

 them for their kindness, and wished them peace. After 

 all, they may have been influenced only by the intention 

 to be ready, in case I should play them some false trick, 

 for they have reason to be distrustful of the whites. The 

 guides came over to bid us adieu, and we sat under a 

 mango-tree, fifteen feet in circumference. We found 

 them more communicative now. They said that the land 

 on both sides belonged to the Bazunga, and that they had 

 left of old, on the approach of Changamera, Ngaba", and 

 Mpakane. Sekwebu was the last named, but he main- 

 tained that they never came to the confluence, though 

 they carried off all the cattle of Mburuma. The guides 

 confirmed this by saying that the Bazunga were not 

 attacked, but fled in alarm on the approach of the enemy. 

 This mango-tree he knew by its proper name, and we 

 found seven others and several tamarinds, and were 

 informed that the chief Mburuma sends men annually to 

 gather the fruit, but, like many Africans whom I have 

 known, has not had patience to propagate more trees. 

 I gave them some little presents for themselves, a handker- 

 chief and a few beads, and they were highly pleased with 

 a cloth of red baize for Mburuma, which Sekeletu had 

 given me to purchase a canoe. We were thankful to part 

 good friends. 



Next morning we passed along the bottom of the range, 

 called Mazanzwe, and found the ruins of eight or ten stone 

 houses. They all faced the river, and were high enough 

 up the flanks of the hill Mazanzwe to command a pleasant 

 view of the broad Zambesi. These establishments had 

 all been built on one plan — a house on one side of a large 

 court, surrounded by a wall ; both houses and walls had 

 been built of soft grey sandstone cemented together with 

 mud. The work had been performed by slaves igno- 

 rant of building, for the stones were not often placed so 



