52 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Aug. 
men at Mbova to send to him, but there was not a man in the 
place ; so we sat down, not knowing what to do. After waiting 
awhile, five men appeared, each carrying a quantity of corn ; 
they had come from Shesheke to sell it, and intended to return 
at once. We bought the corn, and I arranged to return with 
them to Shesheke next day, to see Mr. Westbeech if possible. 
Sunday^ 27//^. — Most of the boys who had offered their services 
ran off early this morning, so I remained at Mbova until 
evening, and went a short distance with two men who were 
willing to go with me. I might as well have remained until 
Monday, but was anxious to get out of Mbova as quickly as 
possible, hoping to get a night's sleep. That town lies in the 
middle of an immense marsh, and at night it swarms with 
mosquitoes ; it is also a regular malaria swamp all the year 
round. I slept at night by the side of a small river in the 
middle of a thick wood. 
2W1. — Crossed the Ungwesi river, and after walking for some 
distance turned down to the Zambesi, where I met a company 
of hunters with boats on the river. I hired one of their boats 
and two men, to take me and mine to Shesheke, and, crossing 
the river, slept at their little reed-hut town. The lions are very 
numerous here, and through the night they did make a noise. 
SHESHEKE. 
August 30///. — After some trouble I started this morning, and 
got on well for a time. It is very pleasant sailing along this 
immense river. After a few hours, however, the boatmen landed 
me on the bank, and quietly set to work landing my stuff. I 
could not believe Shesheke was so near, but they assured me it 
was near to some trees close by, and that they landed me to 
avoid a long bend in the river ; so I let them go, and found out 
their deceit, to my sorrow, afterwards. The two boys I had with 
me as carriers were from the same town as the boatmen, and 
were privy to the plan. After a long six hours' walk, mostly 
through a labyrinth of broken-down reeds, with mud and slush 
underneath, I arrived at Shesheke, and was glad to find Mr. 
Westbeech there. Welcoming me kindly, he said that he had 
been detained for several weeks, much against his will, but was 
now expecting to be off at once. 
