i886.] 
Stay in Garenganze. 
179 
I may here remark that the Ovimbundu carpenters can make 
two very good planks out of one tree. Their mode of doing 
so may be thus described. They first make a V cut along 
one side of the log, directed towards the heart of the tree. 
When they have carried this incision as far as they can with their 
short little axes they roll the log over, and begin at the opposite 
side, making another similar incision. As the points of these two 
Vs meet in the centre of the log it falls asunder, with the help of 
a little wedging. Each side is then levelled by the axes, which 
are so made that the blade can be turned at a right angle to the 
handle, and used as an adze. By this means they dress down 
both sides of each half-log, and make two good planks from one 
tree.* 
April 22nd. — Alarming news reached me to-day about the 
little company I sent off to Nana Kandundu. One of their 
number came running into camp in a great state of excitement, 
saying he had travelled from the Lualaba river in four days, and 
that the lives of my Bihe men were in danger. News had also 
come that three Garenganze caravans had been plundered and 
many men killed — one at Bihe, another in the Lovale country, 
the third in the Lunda country, but all at the instigation of Bihe 
chiefs and traders, who thought that they had been unjustly 
dealt with in certain business transactions they had with Msidi. 
I went down to confer on the matter with the king, but he had 
little to say, so there is not much prospect of getting the few 
loads I left at Nana Kandundu brought on at present. 
As soon as these troubles are in some way settled I hope to 
send Cinyama to Bihe. 
VISITS IN NEIGHBOURHOOD. 
May 1th. — Went to visit Kagoma, a small chief on the 
Lukuruwe river, two good days' journey from Msidi's capital. 
Kalasa, the chiefs son, went with me. I rode across the great 
plain, which extends out towards the north. Being the dry 
season, water was somewhat scarce, and the country we passed 
through was very arid and barren-looking. Kagoma has been 
suffering for many years from leprous sores. He was very 
* Large saws have since been sent, and will save much labour in making 
planks. 
N 2 
