80 THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



sight agreeably after the evergreen monotony of the 

 river- plain. A petty chief, Mvirama, accompanied by 

 a small party of armed men, posted himself near the 

 cantonment, demanding rice, which was refused with 

 asperity. At this frontier station the Wazaramo, mixed 

 up with the tribes of Udoe, K'hutu, and Usagara, are no 

 longer dreaded. 



From Kidunda, the route led over sandy ground, 

 with lines and scatters of water- worn pebbles, de- 

 scended the precipitous inclines of sandstone, broken 

 into steps of slabs and flags, and crossed the Manyora, 

 a rough and rocky Fiumara, abounding in blocks of 

 snowy quartz, grey and pink syenites, erratic boulders 

 of the hornblende used as whetstones, and strata of a 

 rude sandstone conglomerate. Thence it spanned grass, 

 bush, and forest, close to the Kingani, and finally 

 leaving the stream on the right hand, it traversed 

 sandy soil, and, ascending a wave of ground, abutted 

 upon the Mgeta or rivulet, a large perennial influent, 

 which, rising in the mountains of Duthumi, drains the 

 head of the River- valley. 



This lower portion of the Mgeta's bed was unford- 

 able after the heavy rains: other caravans, however, 

 had made a rude bridge of trees, felled on each side, 

 lashed with creepers, and jammed together by the force 

 of the current. The men perched upon the trunks and 

 boughs, tossed or handed to one another the loads and 

 packages, whilst the asses, pushed by force of arm down 

 the banks, were driven with sticks and stones across the 

 stream. Suddenly a louder cry than usual arose from 

 the mob ; my double-barrelled elephant-gun found a 

 grave below the cold and swirling waters. The Goanese 

 Gaetano had the courage to plunge in ; the depth was 

 about twelve feet ; the sole was of roots and loose sand, 



