LIVINGSTONIA—B LAN TYRE — Q UILLIMANE. 433 
recorded day was that on which we had made the start 
with the Unyamwenda from the borders of Mashona- 
land in June, 1884. 
Before dawn the wind had fallen, and the little craft 
was soon under weigh, pitching full speed ahead as she 
was steered straight towards the narrow gates of the 
lake. On each side the land converged as we neared 
the southern outlet; gradually a current was perceptible, 
becoming swifter and stronger, until, with a rush, we 
darted through the high reed-walled portals of Nyassa, 
and the great lake was left to the north. Two hours 
later Lake Pamalombe, girt with tall and trembling 
reeds of a deep green hue, is passed, and we enter upon 
the waters of the Upper Shire. 
As we glide quickly and swiftly past the river’s 
banks, the grass tops of numerous village huts are seen ; 
and twice the white-robed robbers of liberty could be 
distinguished standing in groups with their numerous 
followers, their garb of purity glaring in the sunlight. 
Speedily, however, the scene of slavery was left behind, 
passing away like a moving panorama, as we went on 
to the land of unenslaved and wildest freedom. 
Wonderful were the new scenes which surrounded us 
as we entered these regions of teeming life, in which 
both air and water were animated. As the steamer ran 
rapidly along, panting and coughing forth volumes of 
spark-charged smoke, out from the silent and seemingly 
lifeless trees came immense flocks of waterfowl—divers 
and ducks, spoon-bills, kingfishers, fish-hawks, 'and 
open-bills ; black ibis, too, filled the air, uttering their 
vociferous screams of protest as they flew away in every 
direction, dazzling the eyes with their rich purple-green 
plumage, flashing in the mellow light of the evening. 
Less pleasant to look upon were the amphibious and 
creeping things, which were sadly disturbed by our 
progress. Numbers of crocodiles could be seen on every 
hand, with waddling steps hurrying their loathsome 
bodies from jungle and from mud-bank, to slide into 
the darksome deep. 
The ponderous hippo with his great yawning cavern- 
