158 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Dec. 
and firm, with grass and trees growing upon a host of mounds 
made by ants. 
12th. — Very wet to-day. I managed to kill a large antelope 
last night, and gave my men the meat, so they are in better spirits 
than usual. On the whole they have been most trying ; never, even 
for a day, content, and fighting like wolves among themselves. 
13//^. — Started wadi7ig to-day, and all got into camp very tired. 
I found some huts, extending over a space of about a square mile, 
and built on dry mounds, the work of former travellers. 
i^th. — Water about knee-deep all day; got to another group 
of half-dry mounds; I pitched my tent with great care, and by 
setting each foot of my chair on an ant hill, managed to keep 
above water. 
i^th. — Got on to dry ground again, and camped on the south 
bank of the Kifumadshe River. 
CARRIERS CLAMOUR FOR MEAT. 
December 16th. — Crossed the river and camped quite late. Here 
my men began to misbehave to the best of their ability — laying 
down their loads, demanding more rations, then meat : " Meat, 
Monare, give us meat ; why won't you hunt? you are starving us." 
I lifted my gun to go. I was, I must confess, sadly out of temper, 
and kept scolding them while I was tugging the cover off my 
gun, when it suddenly went off, shattering the point of my left 
fore-finger. There was no one who could dress a wound, so I 
thought the cleanest and safest way would be to cut off the top 
joint of the finger. I got a lancet out of my case, and my man, 
Kasoma, cut according to my directions. This effectually cooled 
my anger; indeed, I was compelled to rejoice at the mercy of 
God. Two verses came forcibly to my mind : " You only have 
I known of all the families of the earth : therefore I will punish 
you for all your iniquities;" and "The Lord loveth judgment, 
and forsaketh not His saints." I ate a good supper, slept well, 
and was first off next morning, and first in camp at Kasombo, a 
clump of villages at the head of the Lutembwa river. Yesterday 
I passed Lake Dilolo far to the right, only seeing the water 
glistening between the hills. I would have gone by the lake, 
but because of my ox I was compelled to avoid it, the way being 
marshy in places. 
