308 THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



yet there is no order against the practice. They barter 

 for slaves their salt and ivory, the principal produce of 

 the country. No caravan ever passes through the 

 country without investing capital in the salt-bitter sub- 

 stance which is gathered in flakes efflorescing from the 

 dried mud upon the surface of the Mbuga, or swampy 

 hollows ; the best and the cheapest is found in the 

 district of Kanyenye. It is washed to clear it of dirt, 

 boiled till it crystallises, spread upon clean and smoothed 

 ground, and moulded with the hands into rude cones 

 about half a foot in length, which are bought at 

 the rate of 7 — 10 for a Shukkah, and are sold at a 

 high premium after a few days' march. Ugogo sup- 

 plies western Usagara and the eastern regions of Un- 

 yamwezi with this article. It is, however, far inferior to 

 the produce of the Kusugi pits, in Uvinza, which, on 

 account of its " sweetness," finds its way throughout 

 the centre of Africa. Elephants are numerous in the 

 country : every forest is filled with deep traps, and 

 during droughthy seasons many are found dead in the 

 jangle. The country is divided into districts ; the 

 tusks become the property of the Sultan within whose 

 boundaries the animal falls, and the meat is divided 

 amongst his subjects. Ivory is given in barter for slaves : 

 this practice assures to caravans a hold upon the people, 

 who, having an active commerce with the coast, cannot 

 afford to be shut out from it. The Wagogo are so greedy 

 of serviles that every gang leaves among them some of its 

 live stock — the principal want of the listless and indo- 

 lent cultivator. The wild captives bought in the interior, 

 wayworn and fond of change, are persuaded by a word to 

 desert ; they take the first opportunity of slipping away 

 from their masters, generally stealing a weapon and a 

 little cloth or rations for immediate use. Their new 



