Fromboyhoodupwardswehavebeenaccustomed，fromtimetotime，toreadinbooksoftravelsaboutthegreatadvancesannuallymadebyMohammedanisminAfrica。Therateatwhichthisreligionspreadswassaidtobesorapid，thatinafterdays，inourownprettyextensivetravels，wehaveconstantlybeenonthelookoutfortheadvancingwavefromNorthtoSouth，which，itwasprophesied，wouldsoonreducetheentirecontinenttothefaithofthefalseprophet。Theonlyfoundationthatwecandiscoverfortheassertionsreferredto，andforothersofmorerecentdate，isthefactthatinaremotecornerofNorth-WesternAfricatheFulahs，andMandingoes，andsomeothersinNorthernAfrica，asmentionedbyDr。Barth，havemadeconquestsofterritory；buteventheycaresoverylittlefortheextensionoftheirfaith，thataftertheconquestnopainswhateveraretakentoindoctrinatetheadultsofthetribe。ThisisinexactaccordancewiththeimpressionwehavereceivedfromourintercoursewithMohammedansandChristians。ThefollowersofChristaloneareanxioustopropagatetheirfaith。AquasiphilanthropistwouldcertainlyneverneedtorecommendthefollowersofIslam，whomwehavemet，torestraintheirbenevolencebypreachingthat\"Charityshouldbeginathome。”
ThoughSeleleandhiscompanionswereboundtotheirmastersbydomesticties，theonlynewideatheyhadimbibedfromMohammedanismwas，thatitwouldbewrongtoeatmeatkilledbyotherpeople。Theythoughtitwouldbe\"unlucky。”JustastheinhabitantsofKolobeng，beforebeingtaughttherequirementsofChristianity，refrainedfromhoeingtheirgardensonSundays，lesttheyshouldreapanunluckycrop。Sofaraswecouldlearn，noeffortshadbeenmadetoconvertthenatives，thoughthesetwoArabs，andaboutadozenhalf-castes，hadbeeninthecountryformanyyears；andjudgingfromourexperiencewithadozenMohammedansinouremployathighwagesforsixteenmonths，theAfricanswouldbethebettermeninproportionastheyretainedtheirnativefaith。ThismayappearonlyaharshjudgmentfromamindimbuedwithChristianprejudices；butwithoutanypretentiontothatimpartiality，whichleavesitdoubtfultowhichsidetheaffectionslean，thetruthmaybefairlystatedbyonewhoviewedallMohammedansandAfricanswiththesincerestgoodwill。
OurtwelveMohammedansfromJohannaweretheleastopenofanyofourpartytoimpressionfromkindness。Amarkeddifferenceingeneralconductwasapparent。TheMakololo，andothernativesofthecountry，whomwehadwithus，invariablysharedwitheachotherthefoodtheyhadcooked，buttheJohannamenpartookoftheirmealsatadistance。This，atfirst，weattributedtotheirMoslemprejudices；
butwhentheysawthecookingprocessoftheothersnearlycomplete，theycame，satbesidethem，andatetheportionofferedwithouteverrememberingtoreturnthecomplimentwhentheirownturncametobegenerous。TheMakololoandtheothersgrumbledattheirgreediness，yetalwaysfollowedthecommoncustomofAfricansofsharingtheirfoodwithallwhositaroundthem。WhatvexedusmostintheJohannamenwastheirindifferencetothewelfareofeachother。Once，whentheywereallcomingtotheshipaftersleepingashore，oneofthemwalkedintothewaterwiththeintentionofswimmingofftotheboat，andwhileyethardlyuptohiskneeswasseizedbyahorridcrocodileanddraggedunder；thepoorfellowgaveashriek，andhelduphishandforaid，butnoneofhiscountrymenstirredtohisassistance，andhewasneverseenagain。Onaskinghisbrother-in-lawwhyhedidnothelphim，hereplied，\"Well，noonetoldhimtogointothewater。Itwashisownfaultthathewaskilled。”TheMakololoontheotherhandrescuedawomanatSennabyenteringthewater，andtakingheroutofthecrocodile\'smouth。
Itisnotassumedthattheirreligionhadmuchtodointhematter。
ManyMohammedansmightcontrastfavourablywithindifferentChristians；but，sofarasourexperienceinEastAfricagoes，themoraltoneofthefollowerofMahomedispitchedatalowerkeythanthatoftheuntutoredAfrican。TheancientzealforpropagatingthetenetsoftheKoranhasevaporated，andbeenreplacedbythemostintenseselfishnessandgrossestsensuality。TheonlyknowneffortsmadebyMohammedans，namely，thoseintheNorth-WestandNorthofthecontinent，aresolinkedwiththeacquisitionofpowerandplunder，asnottodeservethenameofreligiouspropagandism；andtheonlyreligionthatnowmakesproselytesisthatofJesusChrist。Tothosewhoarecapableoftakingacomprehensiveviewofthissubject，nothingcanbeadducedofmoretellingsignificancethanthewell-
attestedfact，thatwhiletheMohammedans，Fulahs，andotherstowardsCentralAfrica，makeafewproselytesbyaprocesswhichgratifiestheirowncovetousness，threesmallsectionsoftheChristianconverts，theAfricansintheSouth，intheWestIndies，andontheWestCoastofAfricaactuallycontributeforthesupportandspreadoftheirreligionupwardsof15，000poundsannually。{7}ThatreligionwhichsofarovercomestheselfishnessofthehumanheartmustbeDivine。
LeavingKota-kotaBay，weturnedawaydueWestonthegreatslaveroutetoKatanga\'sandCazembe\'scountryinLonda。Jumalentushisservant，Selele，toleadusthefirstday\'smarch。HesaidthatthetradersfromKilwaandIboecrosstheLakeeitheratthisbay，oratTsenga，oratthesouthernendoftheLake；andthatwherevertheymaycrosstheyallgobythispathtotheinterior。Theyhaveslaveswiththemtocarrytheirgoods，andwhentheyreachaspotwheretheycaneasilybuyothers，theysettledownandbeginthetraffic，andatoncecultivategrain。Somuchofthelandlieswaste，thatnoobjectionisevermadetoanyonetakingpossessionofasmuchasheneeds；theycanpurchaseafieldofcassavafortheirpresentwantsforverylittle，andtheycontinuetradinginthecountryfortwoorthreeyears，andgivingwhatweighttheirmusketspossesstothechiefwhoismostliberaltothem。
Thefirstday\'smarchledusoverarich，well-cultivatedplain。
Thiswassucceededbyhighlands，undulating，stony，andcoveredwithscraggytrees。Manybanksofwellroundedshingleappear。Thedisintegrationoftherocks，nowgoingon，doesnotroundofftheangles；theyaresplitupbytheheatandcoldintoangularfragments。OnthesehighdownswecrossedtheRiverKaombe。Beyonditwecameamongtheuplandvegetation——rhododendrons，proteas，themasuko，andmolompi。Atthefootofthehill，Kasuko-suko，wefoundtheRiverBuarunningnorthtojointheKaombe。Wehadtogoamileoutofourwayforaford；thestreamisdeepenoughinpartsforhippopotami。Thevariousstreamsnotpreviouslynoticed，crossedinthisjourney，hadbeforethisledustotheconclusion，independentlyofthetestimonyofthenatives，thatnolargeriverranintothenorthendoftheLake。NosuchaffluentwasneededtoaccountfortheShire\'sperennialflow。
OnSeptember15thwereachedthetopoftheascentwhich，fromitsmanyupsanddowns，hadoftenmadeuspuffandblowasifbroken-
winded。Thewaterofthestreamswecrossedwasdeliciouslycold，andnowthatwehadgainedthesummitatNdonda，wheretheboiling-
pointofwatershowedanaltitudeof3440feetabovethesea，theairwasdelightful。LookingbackwehadamagnificentviewoftheLake，butthehazepreventedourseeingbeyondtheseahorizon。Thescenewasbeautiful，butitwasimpossibletodissociatethelovelylandscapewhosehillsanddaleshadsosorelytriedourlegsandlungs，fromthesadfactthatthiswaspartofthegreatslaveroutenowactuallyinuse。Bythisroadmany\"Tenthousands\"havehereseen\"theSea，\"\"theSea，\"butwithsinkinghearts；fortheuniversalideaamongthecaptivegangsis，thattheyaregoingtobefattenedandeatenbythewhites。Theycannotofcoursebesomuchshockedasweshouldbe——theirsensibilitiesarefarfromfine，theirfeelingsaremoreobtusethanours——infact，\"theliveeelsareusedtobeingskinned，\"perhapstheyratherlikeit。Wewhoarenotphilosophic，blessedtheProvidencewhichatThermopylaeinancientdaysrolledbackthetideofEasternconquestfromtheWest，andsoguidedthecourseofeventsthatlightandlibertyandgospeltruthspreadtoourdistantisle，andemancipatingourracefreedthemfromthefearofeveragainhavingtoclimbfatiguingheightsanddescendwearisomehollowsinaslave-gang，aswesupposetheydidwhenthefairEnglishyouthswereexposedforsaleatRome。
Lookingwestwardsweperceivedthat，whatfrombelowhadtheappearanceofmountains，wasonlytheedgeofatable-landwhich，thoughatfirstundulating，soonbecamesmooth，andslopedtowardsthecentreofthecountry。TothesouthaprominentmountaincalledChipata，andtothesouth-westanothernamedNgalla，bywhichtheBuaissaidtorise，gavecharactertothelandscape。Inthenorth，massesofhillspreventedourseeingmorethaneightortenmiles。
TheairwhichwassoexhilaratingtoEuropeanshadanoppositeeffectonfivemenwhohadbeenbornandrearedinthemalariaoftheDeltaoftheZambesi。NosoonerdidtheyreachtheedgeoftheplateauatNdonda，thantheylaydownprostrate，andcomplainedofpainsalloverthem。ThetemperaturewasnotmuchlowerthanthatontheshoresoftheLakebelow，76degreesbeingthemeantemperatureoftheday，52degreesthelowest，and82degreesthehighestduringthetwenty-fourhours；attheLakeitwasaboutl0degreeshigher。Ofthesymptomstheycomplainedof——painseverywhere——nothingcouldbemade。Andyetitwasevidentthattheyhadgoodreasonforsayingthattheywereill。Theyscarifiedalmosteverypartoftheirbodiesasaremedialmeasure；medicines，administeredonthesuppositionthattheirmaladywastheeffectofasuddenchill，hadnoeffect，andintwodaysoneofthemactuallydiedinconsequenceof，asfaraswecouldjudge，achangefromamalarioustoapurerandmorerarefiedatmosphere。
Aswewereontheslaveroute，wefoundthepeoplemorechurlishthanusual。Onbeingexpostulatedwithaboutit，theyreplied，\"Wehavebeenmadewarybythosewhocometobuyslaves。”Thecalamityofdeathhavingbefallenourparty，seemed，however，toawakentheirsympathies。Theypointedouttheirusualburying-place，lentushoes，andhelpedtomakethegrave。Whenweofferedtopayallexpenses，theyshowedthattheyhadnotdonethesefriendlyofficeswithoutfullyappreciatingtheirvalue；fortheyenumeratedtheuseofthehut，thematonwhichthedeceasedhadlain，thehoes，thelabour，andthemedicinewhichtheyhadscatteredovertheplacetomakehimrestinpeace。
TheprimitiveAfricanfaithseemstobethatthereisoneAlmightyMakerofheavenandearth；thathehasgiventhevariousplantsofearthtomantobeemployedasmediatorsbetweenhimandthespiritworld，whereallwhohaveeverbeenbornanddiedcontinuetolive；
thatsinconsistsinoffencesagainsttheirfellow-men，eitherhereoramongthedeparted，andthatdeathisoftenapunishmentofguilt，suchaswitchcraft。Theirideaofmoralevildiffersinnorespectfromours，buttheyconsiderthemselvesamenableonlytoinferiorbeings，nottotheSupreme。Evil-speaking——lying——hatred——
disobediencetoparents——neglectofthem——aresaidbytheintelligenttohavebeenallknowntobesin，aswellastheft，murder，oradultery，beforetheyknewaughtofEuropeansortheirteaching。Theonlynewadditiontotheirmoralcodeis，thatitiswrongtohavemorewivesthanone。This，untilthearrivalofEuropeans，neverenteredintotheirmindsevenasadoubt。
Everythingnottobeaccountedforbycommoncauses，whetherofgoodorevil，isascribedtotheDeity。Menareinseparablyconnectedwiththespiritsofthedeparted，andwhenonediesheisbelievedtohavejoinedthehostsofhisancestors。AlltheAfricanswehavemetwithareasfirmlypersuadedoftheirfutureexistenceasoftheirpresentlife。AndwehavefoundnoneinwhomthebeliefintheSupremeBeingwasnotrooted。HeissoinvariablyreferredtoastheAuthorofeverythingsupernatural，that，unlessoneisignorantoftheirlanguage，hecannotfailtonoticethisprominentfeatureoftheirfaith。Whentheypassintotheunseenworld，theydonotseemtobepossessedwiththefearofpunishment。Theutensilsplaceduponthegraveareallbrokenasiftoindicatethattheywillneverbeusedbythedepartedagain。Thebodyisputintothegraveinasittingposture，andthehandsarefoldedinfront。Insomepartsofthecountrytherearetaleswhichwecouldtranslateintofaintglimmeringsofaresurrection；butwhetherthesefables，handeddownfromagetoage，conveythatmeaningtothenativesthemselveswecannottell。Thetruetraditionoffaithisassertedtobe\"thoughamandiehewillliveagain；\"thefalsethatwhenhediesheisdeadforever。
CHAPTERXIV。
ImportantgeographicaldiscoveriesintheWabisacountries——Crueltyoftheslave-trade——TheMazitu——SeriousillnessofDr。Livingstone——
Returntotheship。
Inourcoursewestwards，weatfirstpassedoveragentlyundulatingcountry，withareddishclayeysoil，which，fromtheheavycrops，appearedtobeveryfertile。Manyrivuletswerecrossed，somerunningsouthwardsintotheBua，andothersnorthwardsintotheLoangwa，ariverwhichweformerlysawflowingintotheLake。
Furtheron，thewaterwaschieflyfoundinpoolsandwells。Thenstillfurther，inthesamedirection，somewatercoursesweresaidtoflowintothatsame\"LoangwaoftheLake，\"andothersintotheLoangwa，whichflowstothesouth-west，andenterstheZambesiatZumbo，andisherecalledthe\"LoangwaoftheMaravi。”Thetreeswereingeneralscraggy，andcovered，exactlyastheyareinthedampclimateoftheCoast，withlichens，resemblingorchilla-weed。Themaize，whichlovesratheradampsoil，hadbeenplantedonridgestoallowthesuperfluousmoisturetorunoff。Everythingindicatedaveryhumidclimate，andthepeoplewarnedusthat，astherainswerenear，wewerelikelytobepreventedfromreturningbythecountrybecomingfloodedandimpassable。
Villages，asusualencircledbyeuphorbiahedges，werenumerous，andagreatdealofgrainhadbeencultivatedaroundthem。Domesticfowls，inplenty，andpigeonswithdovecotslikethoseinEgyptwereseen。ThepeoplecallthemselvesMatumboka，buttheonlydifferencebetweenthemandtherestoftheManganjaisinthemodeoftattooingtheface。Theirlanguageisthesame。Theirdistinctivemarkconsistsoffourtattooedlinesdivergingfromthepointbetweentheeyebrows，which，infrowning，themusclesformintoafurrow。Theotherlinesoftattooing，asinallManganja，runinlongseams，whichcrossingeachotheratcertainanglesformagreatnumberoftriangularspacesonthebreast，back，arms，andthighs。Thecuticleisdividedbyaknife，andtheedgesoftheincisionaredrawnaparttillthetrueskinappears。Byarepetitionofthisprocess，linesofraisedcicatricesareformed，whicharethoughttogivebeauty，nomatterhowmuchpainthefashiongives。
Itwouldnotbeworthwhiletoadvertforamomenttotheroutineoftravelling，orthelittledifficultiesthatbeseteveryonewhoattemptstopenetrateintoanewcountry，wereitnottoshowthegreatsourceofthepowerherepossessedbyslave-traders。Weneededhelpincarryingourgoods，whileourmenwereill，thoughstillabletomarch。Whenwehadsettledwithothersforhire，wewereoftentold，thatthedealersinmenhadtakenpossessionofsome，andhadtakenthemawayaltogether。Otherthingsledustobelievethattheslave-traderscarrymatterswithahighhand；andnowonder，forthepossessionofgunpowdergivesthemalmostabsolutepower。Themodebywhichtribesarmedwithbowsandarrowscarryonwarfare，ordefendthemselves，isbyambuscade。Theynevercomeoutinopenfight，butwaitfortheenemyensconcedbehindtrees，orinthelonggrassofthecountry，andshootathimunawares。Consequently，ifmencomeagainstthemwithfirearms，when，asisusuallythecase，thelonggrassisallburnedoff，thetribeattackedareashelplessasawoodenship，possessingonlysignalguns，wouldbebeforeaniron-cladsteamer。Thetimeofyearselectedforthiskindofwarfareisnearlyalwaysthatinwhichthegrassisactuallyburntoff，orissodryasreadilytotakefire。ThedrygrassinAfricalooksmorelikeripeEnglishwheatlateintheautumn，thananythingelsewecancompareitto。LetusimagineanEnglishvillagestandinginafieldofthissort，boundedonlybythehorizon，andenemiessettingfiretoalineofamileortwo，byrunningalongwithbunchesofburningstrawintheirhands，touchinghereandtheretheinflammablematerial，——thewindblowingtowardsthedoomedvillage——theinhabitantswithonlyoneortwooldmuskets，buttentoonenopowder，——thelonglineofflames，leapingthirtyfeetintotheairwithdensemassesofblacksmoke——andpiecesofcharredgrassfallingdowninshowers。WouldnotthestoutestEnglishvillager，armedonlywiththebowandarrowagainsttheenemy\'smusket，quailattheideaofbreakingthroughthatwalloffire？Whenatadistance，weoncesawascenelikethis，andhadthecharredgrass，literallyasthickasflakesofblacksnow，fallingaroundus，therewasnodifficultyinunderstandingthesecretoftheslave-trader\'spower。
Onthe21stofSeptember，wearrivedatthevillageofthechiefMuasi，orMuazi；itissurroundedbyastockade，andemboweredinverytalleuphorbia-trees；theirheight，thirtyorfortyfeet，showsthatithasbeeninhabitedforatleastonegeneration。Avisitationofdiseaseordeathcausestheheadmentochangethesiteoftheirvillages，andplantnewhedges；but，thoughMuazihassufferedfromtheattacksoftheMazitu，hehasevidentlyclungtohisbirthplace。
Thevillageissituatedabouttwomilessouth-westofahighhillcalledKasungu，whichgivesthenametoadistrictextendingtotheLoangwaoftheMaravi。Severalotherdetachedgranitehillshavebeenshotupontheplain，andmanystockadedvillages，allowingallegiancetoMuazi，arescatteredoverit。
Onourarrival，thechiefwassittinginthesmoothshadyplace，calledBoalo，whereallpublicbusinessistransacted，withabouttwohundredmenandboysaroundhim。Wepaidourguideswithdueostentation。Masiko，thetallestofourparty，measuredoffthefathomofclothagreedupon，andmadeitappearaslongaspossible，byfacingroundtothecrowd，andcuttingafewinchesbeyondwhathisoutstretchedarmscouldreach，toshowthattherewasnodeception。Thiswasbywayofadvertisement。Thepeoplearemightilygratifiedathavingatallfellowtomeasuretheclothforthem。Itpleasesthemevenbetterthancuttingitbyatape-line——
thoughveryfewmenofsixfeethighcanmeasureofftheirownlengthwiththeiroutstretchedarms。Here，whereArabtradershavebeen，thecubitcalledmokono，orelbow，beginstotaketheplaceofthefathominusefurthersouth。Themeasureistakenfromthepointofthebentelbowtotheendofthemiddlefinger。
Wefound，onvisitingMuazionthefollowingday，thathewasasfrankandstraightforwardascouldreasonablybeexpected。HedidnotwishustogototheN。N。W。，becausehecarriesonaconsiderabletradeinivorythere。Wewereanxioustogetofftheslaveroute，topeoplenotvisitedbeforebytraders；butMuazinaturallyfeared，thatifwewenttowhatissaidtobeawell-wateredcountry，aboundinginelephants，wemightrelievehimoftheivorywhichhenowobtainsatacheaprate，andsellstotheslave-tradersastheypassKasungutotheeast；butatlastheconsented，warningusthat\"greatdifficultywouldbeexperiencedinobtainingfood——adistricthadbeendepopulatedbyslavewars——andanightortwomustbespentinit；buthewouldgiveusgoodguides，whowouldgothreedayswithus，beforeturning，andthenfurtherprogressmustdependonourselves。”Someofourmenhavingbeenilleversincewemountedthishighlandplain，weremainedtwodayswithMuazi。
Aherdoffinecattleshowedthatnotsetseexistedinthedistrict。
TheyhadtheIndianhump，andwereveryfat，andverytame。Theboysrodeonbothcowsandbullswithoutfear，andtheanimalsweresofatandlazy，thattheoldonesonlymadeafeebleattempttokicktheiryoungtormentors。Muazinevermilksthecows；hecomplainedthat，butfortheMazituhavingformerlycapturedsome，heshouldnowhavehadverymany。Theywanderoverthecountryatlarge，andcertainlythrive。
AfterleavingMuazi\'s，wepassedoveraflatcountrysparselycoveredwiththescraggyuplandtrees，butbrightenedwithmanyfineflowers。
Thegrasswasshort，reachingnohigherthantheknee，andgrowingintuftswithbarespacesbetween，thoughthetreesweredrapedwithmanyvariouslichens，andshowedamoistclimate。Ahighandverysharpwindblewovertheflats；itspiercingkeennesswasnotcausedbylowtemperature，forthethermometerstoodat80degrees。
WewerenowonthesourcesoftheLoangwaoftheMaravi，whichenterstheZambesiatZumbo，andwerestruckbythegreatresemblancewhichtheboggyandsedgystreamsherepresentedtothesourcesoftheLeeba，anaffluentoftheZambesiformerlyobservedinLonda，andoftheKasai，whichsomebelievetobetheprincipalbranchoftheCongoorZaire。
WehadtakenpainstoascertainfromthetravelledBabisaandArabsasmuchaspossibleaboutthecountryinfront，which，fromthelesseningtimewehadatourdisposal，wefearedwecouldscarcelyreach，andhadheardagooddealofasmalllakecalledBemba。Asweproceededwest，wepassedoverthesourcesnotonlyoftheLoangwa，butofanotherstream，calledMoitawaorMoitala，whichwasrepresentedtobethemainfeederofLakeBemba。Thiswouldbeoflittleimportance，butforthefactthattheconsiderableriverLuapula，orLoapulaissaidtoflowoutofBembatothewestward，andthentospreadoutintoanotherandmuchlargerlake，namedMoero，orMoelo。Flowingstillfurtherinthesamedirection，theLoapulaformsLakeMofue，orMofu，andafterthisitissaidtopassthetownofCazembe，bendtothenorth，andenterLakeTanganyika。Whitherthewaterwentafteritenteredthelastlake，noonewouldventureanassertion。Butthatthecourseindicatedisthetruewatershedofthatpartofthecountry，webelievefromtheunvaryingopinionofnativetravellers。TherecouldbenodoubtthatourinformantshadbeeninthecountrybeyondCazembe\'s，fortheyknewanddescribedchiefswhomweafterwardsmetaboutthirty-fiveorfortymileswestofhistown。TheLualabaissaidtoflowintotheLoapula——andwhen，forthesakeoftestingtheaccuracyofthetravelled，itwasassertedthatallthewateroftheregionroundthetownofCazembeflowedintotheLuambadzi，orLuambezi(Zambesi)，theyremarkedwithasmile，\"Hesays，thattheLoapulaflowsintotheZambesi——didyoueverhearsuchnonsense？\"orwordstothateffect。Wewereforcedtoadmit，thataccordingtonativeaccounts，ourpreviousimpressionoftheZambesi\'sdrainingthecountryaboutCazembe\'shadbeenamistake。Theirgeographicalopinionsarenowonlystated，withoutanyfurthercommentthanthattheitinerarygivenbytheArabsandothersshowsthattheLoapulaistwicecrossedonthewaytoCazembe\'s；andwemayaddthatwehaveneverfoundanydifficultyfromtheallegedincapacityofthenegrototellwhichwayariverflows。
Theboiling-pointofwatershowedadescent，fromtheedgeoftheplateautoourfurthestpointwest，of170feet；butthiscanonlybeconsideredasanapproximation，andnodependencecouldhavebeenplacedonit，hadwenothadthecoursesofthestreamstoconfirmthisratherroughmodeofascertainingaltitudes。Theslope，asshownbythewatershed，wastothe\"LoangwaoftheMaravi，\"andtowardstheMoitala，orsouth-west，west，andnorth-west。AfterweleavethefeedersofLakeNyassa，thewaterdrainstowardsthecentreofthecontinent。ThecourseoftheKasai，ariverseenduringDr。
Livingstone\'sjourneytotheWestCoast，anditsfeederswastothenorth-east，orsomewhatinthesamedirection。WhetherthewaterthusdrainedofffindsitswayoutbytheCongo，orbytheNile，hasnotyetbeenascertained。Somepartsofthecontinenthavebeensaidtoresembleaninverteddinner-plate。Thisportionseemsmoreoftheshape，ifshapeithas，ofawide-awakehat，withthecrownalittledepressed。Thealtitudeofthebriminsomepartsisconsiderable；
inothers，asatTetteandthebottomofMurchison\'sCataracts，itissosmallthatitcouldbeascertainedonlybyeliminatingthedailyvariationsofthebarometer，bysimultaneousobservationsontheCoast，andatpointssometwoorthreehundredmilesinland。SolongasAfricanriversremaininwhatwemaycallthebrim，theypresentnoobstructions；butnosoonerdotheyemergefromthehigherlandsthantheirutilityisimpairedbycataracts。Thelowlyingbeltisveryirregular。Attimesslopingupinthemanneroftherimofaninverteddinner-plate——whileinothercases，ahighridgerisesnearthesea，tobesucceededbyalowerdistrictinlandbeforewereachthecentralplateau。Thebreadthofthelowlandsissometimesasmuchasthreehundredmiles，andthatbreadthdeterminesthelimitsofnavigationfromtheseaward。
WemadethreelongmarchesbeyondMuazi\'sinanorth-westerlydirection；thepeoplewerecivilenough，butrefusedtosellusanyfood。Weweretravellingtoofast，theysaid；infact，theywerestartled，andbeforetheyrecoveredtheirsurprise，wewereobligedtodepart。WesuspectedthatMuazihadsentthemorderstorefuseusfood，thatwemightthusbepreventedfromgoingintothedepopulateddistrict；butthismayhavebeenmeresuspicion，theresultofourownuncharitablefeelings。
WespentonenightatMachambwe\'svillage，andanotheratChimbuzi\'s。
Itisseldomthatwecanfindtheheadmanonfirstenteringavillage。Hegetsoutofthewaytillhehasheardallaboutthestrangers，orheisactuallyoutinthefieldslookingafterhisfarms。Weoncethoughtthatwhentheheadmancameinfromavisitofinspection，withhisspear，bowandarrows，theyhadbeenalltakenupfortheoccasion，andthathehadallthewhilebeenhiddeninsomehutslilywatchingtillheheardthatthestrangersmightbetrusted；butonlisteningtothedetailsgivenbythesemenoftheappearancesofthecropsatdifferentparts，andtheastonishingminutenessofthespeakers\'topography，wewerepersuadedthatinsomecaseswewerewrong，andfeltratherhumiliated。Everyknoll，hill，mountain，andeverypeakonarangehasaname；andsohaseverywatercourse，dell，andplain。Infact，everyfeatureandportionofthecountryissominutelydistinguishedbyappropriatenames，thatitwouldtakealifetimetodeciphertheirmeaning。Itisnotthewant，butthesuperabundanceofnamesthatmisleadstravellers，andthetermsusedaresomultifariousthatgoodscholarswillattimesscarcelyknowmorethanthesubjectofconversation。
Thoughitisalittleapartfromthetopicoftheattentionwhichtheheadmenpaytoagriculture，yetitmaybeherementioned，whilespeakingofthefulnessofthelanguage，thatwehaveheardaboutascoreofwordstoindicatedifferentvarietiesofgait——onewalksleaningforward，orbackward，swayingfromsidetoside，loungingly，orsmartly，swaggeringly，swingingthearms，oronlyonearm，headdownorup，orotherwise；eachofthesemodesofwalkingwasexpressedbyaparticularverb；andmorewordswereusedtodesignatethedifferentvarietiesoffoolsthanweevertriedtocount。
