THE DANGEROUS FOREST. 



319 



this point, a tract of swampy low level led to the 

 third district of Eastern Unyamwezi, called Kigwa, or 

 Mkigwa. We found quarters in a Tembe which was 

 half-burned and partly pulled down, to be re-erected. 



The 6th November saw us betimes in the ill-omened 

 Forest, that divided us from the Unyanyembe district ; 

 it is a thin growth of gum-trees, mimosas, and bauhinias, 

 with tiers, earth- waves, and long rolling lines of tawny- 

 yellow hill — mantled with umbrella-shaped trees, and 

 sometimes capped with blocks and boulders — extending 

 to a considerable distance on both sides. The Sultan 

 of Kigwa, one Manwa, has taken an active part in the 

 many robberies and murders which have rendered this 

 forest a place of terror, and the Arabs have hitherto 

 confined themselves to threats, though a single mer- 

 chant complains that his slave-caravans have at differ- 

 ent times lost fifty loads of cloth. Manwa is aided 

 and counselled by Mansur, a Coast- Arab, who, horse- 

 whipped out of the society of his countrymen at Kazeh, 

 for drunken and disorderly conduct, has become a 

 notorious traitor. Here also Msimbira, a Sultan of 

 the W asukuma, or Northern Wanyamwezi, who has an 

 old and burning hatred against the Arabs, sends his 

 plundering parties. On the 6th November the Baloch 

 set out at 1 a.m., we followed at 2.15 a.m. : they had been 

 prevented from obtaining beads on false pretences, con- 

 sequently they showed temper, and determined to deny 

 their escort. Their beards were now in my hand, they could 

 neither desert nor refuse to proceed, but they desired 

 to do me a harm, and they did it. During the transit 

 of the forest, an old porter having imprudently lagged 

 behind, was clubbed and cruelly bruised by three black 

 Mohawks, who relieved him of his load, a leathern port- 

 manteau, containing clothes, umbrellas, books, ink, jour- 



