650 
AFRICAN IRON. 
Chap. XXXI. 
The only other metal, besides gold, we have in abundance in 
tliis region, is iron, and that is of excellent quality. In some 
places it is obtained from what is called the specular iron ore, 
and also from black oxide. The latter has been well roasted in 
the operations of nature, and contains a large proportion of the 
metal. It occurs generally in tears or rounded lumps, and is but 
slightly magnetic. Wlien found in the beds of rivers, the natives 
know of its existence by the quantity of oxide on the smrface, and 
they find no difficulty in digging it with pointed sticks. They 
consider Enghsh iron as rottenand I have seen, when a 
javelin of their own iron lighted on the cranium of a hippopota¬ 
mus, it curled up like the proboscis of a butterfly, and the 
owner would prepare it for future use by straightening it cold 
with two stones. I brought home some of the hoes which Seke- 
letu gave me to purchase a canoe, also some others obtained in 
Kilimane, and they have been found of such good quality that 
Africa, as it is used to expel rats and serpents there. Mussonzoa dyes cloth 
black. Mussio : the beans of this also dye black. Kangome, with flowers and 
fruit like Mocha coffee ; the leaves are much like those of the sloe, and the seeds 
are used as coffee or eaten as beans. Kanembe-embe : the pounded leaves used 
as an extemporaneous glue for mending broken vessels. Katunguru is used for 
killing fish. Mutavea Nyerere : an active caustic. Mudiacoro : also an external 
caustic, and used internally. Kapande : another ordeal plant, but used to 
produce diaphoresis. Karumgasura : also diaphoretic. Munyazi yields an oil, 
and is one of the ingredients for curing the wounds of poisoned arrows. 
Uombue : a large root, employed in killing fish. Kakumate : used in inter- 
mittents. Musheteko : applied to ulcers ; and the infusion also internally in 
amenorrhoea. Inyak any an 3 ^a : this is seen in small dark-coloured crooked 
roots of pleasant aromatic smell and slightly bitter taste, and is highly extolled 
in the treatment of fever ; it is found in Manica. Eskinencia : used in croup 
and sore-throat. Itaca, or Itaka : for diaphoresis in fever ; this root is brought 
as an article of barter by the Arabs to Kilimane; the natives purchase it 
eagerly. Mukundukundu : a decoction used as a febrifuge in the same way as 
quinine ; it grows plentifully at Shupanga, and the wood is used as masts for 
launches. I may here add the recipe of Brother Pedro of Zumbo for the cure 
of poisoned wounds, in order to show the similarity of practice among the 
natives of the Zambesi, from whom in all probability he acquired his know¬ 
ledge, and the Bushmen of the Kalahari. It consists of equal parts of the roots 
of the Calumba, Musheteko, Abutua, Batatinya, Paregekanto, Itaka, or Kapande, 
put into a bottle and covered with common castor-oil. As I have before 
observed, I believe the oily ingredient is the effectual one, and ought to be 
tried by any one who has the misfortune to get wounded by a Bushman’s or 
Banyai arrow. 
