In examining a tsetse fly very carefully I see that it has a receptacle at the root of the piercer, which is of a black or dark-red colour; and when it is squeezed, a clear fluid is pressed out at its point:  the other two parts of the proboscis are its shield, and have no bulb at the base.  The bulb was pronounced at the Royal Society to be only muscle, but it is curious that muscle should be furnished where none is needed, and withheld in the movable parts of the shield where it is decidedly needed.

5th August, 1868.—­Reach Kombokombo, who is very liberal, and pressed us to stay a day with him as well as with others; we complied, and found that Mohamad had gone nowhere.

7th August, 1868.—­We found a party starting from Kizinga for the coast, having our letters with them; it will take five months to reach the sea.  The disturbed state of the country prevented parties of traders proceeding in various directions, and one that set off on the same day with us was obliged to return.  Mohamad has resolved to go to Manyuema as soon as parties of his men now out return:  this is all in my favour; it is in the way I want to go to see the Lualaba and Lufira to Chowambe.  The way seems opening out before me, and I am thankful.  I resolved to go north by way of Casembe, and guides were ready to start, so was I; but rumours of war where we were going induced me to halt to find out the truth:  the guides (Banyamwezi) were going to divine, by means of a cock, to see if it would be lucky to go with me at present.  The rumours of danger became so circumstantial that our fence was needed:  a well was dug inside, and the Banyamwezi were employed to smelt copper as for the market of Manyuema, and balls for war.  Syde bin Omar soon came over the Luapula from Iramba, and the state of confusion induced the traders to agree to unite their forces and make a safe retreat out of the country.  They objected very strongly to my going away down the right bank of the Luapula with my small party, though it was in sight, so I resolved to remain till all went.

13th August, 1868.—­The Banyamwezi use a hammer shaped like a cone, without a handle.  They have both kinds of bellows, one of goatskin the other of wood, with a skin over the mouth of a drum, and a handle tied to the middle of it; with these they smelt pieces of the large bars of copper into a pot, filled nearly full of wood ashes.  The fire is surrounded by masses of anthills, and in these there are hollows made to receive the melted metal:  the metal is poured while the pot is held with the hands, protected by wet rags.

15th August, 1868.—­Bin Omar, a Suaheli, came from Muaboso on Chambeze in six days, crossing in that space twenty-two burns or oozes, from knee to waist deep.

Very high and cold winds prevail at present.  It was proposed to punish Chikumbi when Syde bin Omar came, as he is in debt and refuses payment; but I go off to Casembe.