A small ant masters the common fly by seizing a wing or leg, and holding on till the fly is tired out; at first the fly can move about on the wing without inconvenience, but it is at last obliged to succumb to an enemy very much smaller than itself.

A species of Touraco, new to me, has a broad yellow mask on the upper part of the bill and forehead; the topknot is purple, the wings the same as in other species, but the red is roseate.  The yellow of the mask plates is conspicuous at a distance.

A large callosity forms on the shoulders of the regular Unyamwesi porters, from the heavy weights laid on them.  I have noticed them an inch and a half thick along the top of the shoulders.  An old man was pointed out to me who had once carried five frasilahs (= 175 lbs.) of ivory from his own country to the coast.

30th August, 1867.—­We marched to-day from Chitimba’s village after three months and ten days’ delay.  On reaching Ponda, 2-1/2 hours distant, we found Tipo Tipo, or Hamidi bin Mohamad, gone on, and so we followed him.  Passed a fine stream flowing S.W. to the Lofu.  Tipo Tipo gave me a fine fat goat.

31st August, 1867.—­Pass along a fine undulating district, with much country covered with forest, but many open glades, and fine large trees along the water-courses.  We were on the northern slope of the watershed, and could see far.  Crossed two fine rivulets.  The oozes still full and flowing.

1st September, 1867.—­We had to march in the afternoon on account of a dry patch existing in the direct way.  We slept without water, though by diverging a few miles to the north we should have crossed many streams, but this is the best path for the whole year.

Baraka went back to Tipo Tipo’s village, thus putting his intention of begging among the Arab slaves into operation.  He has only one complaint, and that is dislike to work.  He tried perseveringly to get others to run away with him; lost the medicine-box, six table-cloths, and all our tools by giving his load off to a country lad while he went to collect mushrooms:  he will probably return to Zanzibar, and be a slave to the Arab slaves after being a perpetual nuisance to us for upwards of a year.

2nd September, 1867.—­When we reached the ford of the Lofu, we found that we were at least a thousand feet below Chitimba’s.  The last six hours of our march were without water, but when near to Chungu’s village at the ford we came to fine flowing rivulets, some ten feet or so broad.  Here we could see westwards and northwards the long lines of hills of denudation in Nsama’s country, which till lately was densely peopled.  Nsama is of the Babemba family.  Kasonso, Chitimba, Kiwe, Urongwe, are equals and of one family, Urungai.  Chungu is a pleasant person, and liberal according to his means.  Large game is very abundant through all this country.

The Lofu at the ford was 296 feet, the water flowing briskly over hardened sandstone flag, and from thigh to waist deep; elsewhere it is a little narrower, but not passable except by canoes.