102 
In the Heart of Africa 
west coast, which is grown over with low, dense virgin forest, 
the green monotony of which is occasionally broken by a few 
phoenix palms, presenting a pleasant change to the eye. The 
splendid big turacou, the typical bird of Kwidschwi, and hosts 
of grey parrots stirred and rustled the tree-tops. About two 
o’clock in the afternoon we found a suitable landing-place in a 
deeply indented creek. One or two natives stood on the shore 
gazing in amazement and fear at our approaching flotilla. They 
did not await our landing, however, but disappeared headlong 
into the scrub. Then our rowers leaped into the shallow water, 
as if at word of command, sprang on shore, and gave chase 
to the fugitives. It was not long before they returned, laughing 
and chattering, and bearing with them goods which had been 
thrown down by the other natives in their flight. They appeared 
to expect praise for their heroic deed, and were, therefore, rather 
astonished when we gave them a few cuts with our sticks, and 
ordered them to replace the stolen goods whence they had taken 
them as speedily as possible. 
The next morning we journeyed farther south to try and 
discover a suitable opening into the forest which covers the 
central part of Kwidschwi. It begins sporadically on the banks 
and rises, at its highest point, to about eight hundred metres 
above the level of the lake. We intended to do some collecting 
in this totally unknown virgin forest in order to be in a position 
to compare it with the Rugege forest, and also the Congo forest, 
which we had yet to explore. The island is about forty kilo¬ 
metres in length and some fifteen kilometres across at its broadest 
point, and is half covered with a forest of lofty trees. The 
rest of it is, relatively, cultivated arable land. After a four 
hours’ journey, we arrived at a broad bay. The shores were 
thickly vegetated with banana, pea, and bean fields, and not far 
away lay the forest. A mighty umbelliform acacia near the 
bank appeared to invite us to pitch our tents, and the forest 
looked easily accessible from this point. Grawert had recom¬ 
mended Tamate to us, the subordinate chieftain of the Niamischi 
province, as being a suitable intermediary when negotiating 
