CHAP. VIII.] 
FIRST CLUE TO THE LAKE . 
349 
gungo as being on a large river, and I have concluded 
that it must be the Asua ; but, upon cross-examination, 
I find he has used the word ‘ JBahr * (in Arabic signi¬ 
fying river or sea) instead of ‘ Birke ? (lake). This 
important error being discovered gives a new feature 
to the geography of this part. According to his descrip¬ 
tion, Magungo is situated on a lake so large that no 
one knows its limits. Its breadth is such that, if you 
journey two days east and the same distance west, 
there is no land visible in either quarter, while to the 
south its direction is utterly unknown. Large vessels 
arrive at Magungo from distant and unknown parts, 
bringing cowrie-shells and beads in exchange for ivory. 
Upon these vessels white men have been seen. All the 
cowrie-shells used in Latooka and the neighbouring 
countries are supplied by these vessels, but none have 
arrived for the last two years. 
“His description of distance places Magungo on 
about the 2° N. lat. The lake can be no other than 
the ‘N’yanza/ which, if the position of Magungo be 
correct, extends much farther north than Speke had 
supposed. The ‘ white men , must be Arab traders 
who bring cowries from Zanzibar. I shall take the 
first opportunity to push for Magungo. I imagine 
that country belongs to Kamrasi’s brother, as Wani 
says the king has a brother who is king of a powerful 
