1885.] Geography and Travels, 161 
about 1000 days, we have an average rate of drifting of two 
and a half nautical miles per day. M. Thonar will undertake 
an expedition to investigate the delta of Pilcomayo, and endeavor 
to open up a great trade route between Bolivia and Paraguay. 
In this it is said that he will receive the active support of several 
South American governments. Drs. Clauss and Herr von der 
Steinen have returned to Para from a successful investigation of 
the tributaries on the upper right bank of the Amazon and 
Xingu rivers. 
Arrica.—Mr, O'Neill's Fourney—Mr. H. E. O'Neill, in his 
account of his journey from Mozambique to Lakes Shirwa and 
maramba, through the Makua and Lomwe countries, states 
that in point of geographical interest, of security, and of facility 
of travel, this route compares favorably with any overland route 
to the African lakes, The Zanzibar-Tanganyika route is occupied 
by lawless chiefs, who levy extortionate black-mail, the route 
from North Nyassa to Zanzibar has been shown by the expedi- 
tion of Capt. Elton to be one of great difficulty, and the old 
Kilwa-Nyassa route, opened up by Dr. Livingstone, now passes 
in great part through a deserted and desolate country, owing to 
the ravages of the Magwangwara, the same tribe which blocks 
the North Nyassa route. Native ruleamong the Makua consists 
of a confederation of petty chiefs, each of which is perfectly 
independent with regard to the internal affairs of his own state. 
e Makua can weave cloth, but wear so little that a palm’s 
breadth, forty inches long, would provide clothing for half a 
ozen men or women. Namuli peak and its surrounding hills, 
8500 to gooo feet high, forms one of the most striking features 
of the country. A feeling of great reverence for particularly 
conspicuous hills, reaching almost to mountain-worship in the 
case of Namuli, exists among the Lomwe. The feeling probably 
arises from the fact that each of these elevations has served asa 
refuge to the people living near it when attacked by their enemies, 
The Kwilu Expedition—In human suffering and cost of life 
_ the expedition sent to H. M. Stanley, in 1882, to explore the 
Kwilu-Niadi valley, rivals that of Lieut. Greely to the Arctic. 
The party, consisting of seven Europeans and seventy Zanzibaris, 
got into difficulties from want of food at the start. Two 
Europeans were left behind at Isanghila, where one died. The 
accidental discharge of the rifle of a Zanzibari, soon after, nearly 
brought on a conflict with the natives. Two magnificent ranges 
of hills were then met with, separated by a lovely valley, watered 
by the Ludima, a tributary of the Niadi, which was found to be 
identical with the Kwilu. The first station of the association, 
Stephanieville, was founded near the junction of the Ludima 
with the Niadi. All the white men, except the leader, Capt. A. 
G. Elliott, were now disabled. Each of the two Belgian officers, 
` VOL. XIX.—NO. II. Ir 
