188 



THE NYUZI FIUMARA. 



dubious moonlight about the thorny, pathless 

 jungle. We therefore kindled a fire, looked to 

 our weapons, chose a soft sandy place under the 

 bank, and certain that Sha'aban would tend the 

 fire like a Vestal virgin, we were soon lulled to 

 sleep by the music of the breeze, and by the frogs 

 chaunting their ancient querele upon the miry 

 margin of the pools. That day's work had been 

 only three leagues and a bittock. But — 



' These high, wild hills, and rough, uneven ways 

 Draw out the miles : ' 



it seemed as though we had marched double 

 distance ; a circumstance wliich the young Afri- 

 can traveller would do well to note. 



At dawn, after our supperless bivouac, we re- 

 traced our steps, and soon came upon our people, 

 who shouted aloud, Khayr ! Khayr ! They had 

 taken the northern path, and they had nighted 

 also near water, upon the upper course of the 

 fiumara which gave us hospitality. The Nyuzi 

 is a rocky bed about 20 feet broad, showing traces 

 of violent periodical freshets, edged with thick 

 trees, gummy acacias, wild mulberries, and 

 large wood-apples (Feronias). Even in the driest 

 season it preserves pools, sometimes 100 feet 

 long, and water is always procurable by digging 

 in the sand. The banks shelter various birds and 



