BARK-BOOTHIES. 



35 



these regions are made of tree-sheets : two parallel 

 rings are cut in the bole, at a distance of six to seven 

 feet ; a perpendicular slit then connects them, the bark 

 is easily stripped off, and the trunk, after having been 

 left for a time to season, is filled for use. 



On the 5th of February we set out betimes, across a 

 route traversing for a short distance swampy ground 

 along the river-side. It then stretched over jungly 

 and wooded hill-spires, with steep rough ascents and 

 descents, divided from neighbouring elevations by slip- 

 pery mire-runs. Exposed to the full break of the rainy 

 monsoon, and the frequent outbursts of fiery sun, I 

 could not but admire the marvellous fertility of the 

 soil ; an impervious luxuriance of vegetation veils the 

 lowlands, clothes the hill-sides, and caps their rounded 

 summits. After marching five hours and twenty 

 minutes, we found a large kraal in the district of 

 Kinawani: the encamping ground, — partially cleared 

 of the thick, fetid, and putrescent vegetation around, 

 — hugs the right bank of the Malagarazi, and faces 

 the village of Sultan Mzogera on the southern or 

 opposite side. A small store of provisions — -grain 

 and sweet-potatoes — was purchased from the vil- 

 lagers of Kinawani, who flocked across the stream 

 to trade. They were, however, fanciful in their 

 requirements : beads, especially the coral porcelain, 

 iron- wire, salt, and meat. The heaviness of this march 

 caused two of the Hammals engaged at Usagozi to 

 levant, and the remaining four to strike work. It was 

 therefore again necessary to mount ass — ten days after 

 an attack of " paraplegia ! " 



We left Kinawani on the next morning, and striking 

 away from the river we crossed rugged and rolling 

 ground, divided by deep swamps of mire and grass. 



I) 2 



