208 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
By morning the gale had subsided, and the heavy, 
sluggish waves were slumbering. After waiting to 
cook our morning meal, and assisting the restoration of 
animal heat with draughts of Liebig’s extract liquefied, 
we resumed our journey along the southern coast of 
Uvuma about 8 a.m. 
Upon leaving the bay of Mombiti, we were compelled 
to pass by a point of land closely covered with tall 
grass, whither we saw a large force of natives rush to 
take up advantageous positions. As we slowly neared 
the point, a few of them advanced to the rocks, and 
beckoned us to approach nearer. We acceded so far as 
to approach within a few feet, when the natives called 
out something and immediately attacked us with large 
rocks. We sheered off immediately, when a crowd 
emerged from their hiding-place with slings, with which 
they Hung stones at us, striking the boat and wounding 
the steersman, who was seated next to me. To prevent 
further harm, I discharged my revolver rapidly at them, 
and one of the natives fell ; whereupon the others 
desisted from their attack, and retreated into the grass, 
leaving us to pursue our way unmolested. 
Again edging close to the shore, we continued our 
investio'ations of the numerous indentations. The 
O 
island rose with steep, grassy, treeless slopes to a height 
of about 300 feet above the lake. Herds of cattle were 
abundant, and docks of goats grazed on the hillsides. 
The villages were many, but unenclosed, and consisted 
of a few dome-like huts, from which we inferred that 
the Wavurna were a people who could well defend 
themselves. At this time the lake was as still as a 
pond ; no clouds hung over any part of the horizon : the 
sky was of a steel blue colour, out of which the sun 
shone with true tropical fervour. But the atmosphere 
was not clear ; a light vapour rose out of the lake, 
trembling in the heat, rendering islands but dve miles 
distant dim and indistinct. 
Arrived in the channel between the tawny, grass-clad 
island of Bugeyeya and that of Uvuma, we steered mid- 
way, that we might take compass bearings. From a 
