.54 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



they assumed the form of round huts and long sheds or 

 boothies of straw or grass supported by a framework 

 of rough sticks firmly planted in the ground and lashed 

 together with bark-strips. The whole was surrounded 

 with a deep circle of thorns which — the entrance or 

 entrances being carefully closed at nightfall, not to re- 

 open until dawn — formed a complete defence against 

 bare feet and naked legs. About half-way a junction 

 of the Mbuamaji road was reached, and the path became 

 somewhat broader and less rough. Passing on the 

 right a hilly district, called Dunda or " the Hill," the 

 road fell from the ancient sea-beach into the alluvial 

 valley of the Kingani River ; presently rising again, it 

 entered the settlement of Nzasa, a name interpreted 

 " level ground." 



Nzasa is the first district of independent Uzararno. 

 My men proceeded to occupy the Bandani, in the centre 

 of the hamlet, when Said bin Salim, discovering with the 

 sharp eye of fear a large drum, planted in readiness for 

 the war-signal or the dance-signal, hurried about till 

 he had turned all hands out of the village into a 

 clump of trees hard by, a propitious place for surprise 

 and ambuscade. Here I was visited by three P'hazi or 

 headmen, Kizaya, Tumba Ihere or the " poison gourd," 

 and Kombe la Simba or the " lion's hide." They came 

 to ascertain whether I was bound on peaceful errand or 

 — as the number of our guns suggested — I was march- 

 ing to revenge the murder of my " brother " Muzungu. 

 Assured of our unwarlike intentions, they told me that 

 I must halt on the morrow and send forward a message 

 to the next chief. As this plan invariably loses three 

 days, — the first being a dies non, the second being ex- 

 pended in dispensing exoteric information to all the 

 lieges squatting in solemn conclave, whilst on the third 



