166 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
strong gale, which came driving down on ns from the 
south-west. After a hard pull of about two hours in the 
teeth of the storm, which was rapidly rising, we pointed 
the head of the boat into a little quiet cove, almost 
hidden in tall reeds, and disembarked for the night. 
Cognizant of the dangers which surrounded us, 
knowing that savage and implacable man was the worst 
enemy we had to fear, we employed our utmost energies 
in the construction of a stout fence of thorn bushes, and 
then sat down to supper after our work was done, and 
turned in to sleep ; but not before we had posted watch- 
men to guard our canoe, lest the daring thieves of Uvira 
might abstract it, in which case we should have been in 
a pretty plight, and in most unenviable distress. 
At daybreak, leaving Kukumba Point after our 
humble breakfast of coffee, cheese, and clourra cakes was 
despatched, we steered south once more. Our fires had 
attracted the notice of the sharp-eyed and suspicious 
fishermen of Kukumba ; but our precautions and the 
vigilant watch we had set before retiring, had proved 
an effectual safeguard against the Kivira thieves. 
The western shores of the lake as we proceeded were 
loftier, and more bold than the wooded heights of 
Urundi and bearded knolls of Ujiji. A back ridge — 
the vanguard of the mountains which rise beyond — 
disclosed itself between the serrated tops of the front 
line of mountains, which rose to a height of from 2,500 
to 3,000 feet above the lake. Within the folds of the 
front line of mountains rise isolated hills of considerable 
magnitude, precipitous and abrupt, but scenically very 
picturesque. The greater part of these hills have the 
rounded and smooth top, or are tabularly summited. 
The ridge enfolding these hills shoots out, at intervals, 
promontorial projections of gradual sloping outlines, 
which on the map I have designated capes, or points. 
When rounding these points, up went our compasses for 
the taking of bearings, and observing the directions of 
all prominent objects of interest. Often these capes are 
formed by the alluvial plains, through which we may 
be sure a river will be found flowing. These pretty 
