14th December, 1872.—­Guides turned N.W. to take us to a son of Nsama, and so play the usual present into his hands.  I objected when I saw their direction, but they said, “The path turns round in front.”  After going a mile along the bank of the Menomba, which has much water, Susi broke through and ran south, till he got a S. by W. path, which we followed, and came to a village having plenty of food.  As we have now camped in village, we sent the men off to recall the fugitive women, who took us for Komba-Komba’s men.  Crossed the Lupere, which runs into the Makobwe.

A leech crawling towards me in the village this morning elicited the Bemba idea that they fall from the clouds or sky—­“mulu.”  It is called here “Mosunda a maluze,” or leech of the rivers; “Luba” is the Zanzibar name.  In one place I counted nineteen leeches in our path, in about a mile; rain had fallen, and their appearance out of their hiding-places suddenly after heavy rain may have given rise to the idea of their fall with it as fishes do, and the thunder frog is supposed to do.  Always too cloudy and rainy for observations of stars.

15th December, 1872.—­The country is now level, covered with trees pollarded for clothing, and to make ashes of for manure.  There are many deserted villages, few birds.  Cross the Eiver Lithabo, thirty yards wide and thigh deep, running fast to the S.W., joined by a small one near.  Reached village of Chipala, on the Rivulet Chikatula, which goes to Moipanza.  The Lithabo goes to Kalongwesi by a S.W. course.

16th December, 1872.—­Off at 6 A.M. across the Chikatula, and in three-quarters of an hour crossed the Lopanza, twelve yards wide and waist deep, being now in flood.  The Lolela was before us in half-an-hour, eight yards wide and thigh deep, both streams perennial and embowered in tall umbrageous trees that love wet; both flow to the Kalongwesi.

We came to quite a group of villages having food, and remain, as we got only driblets in the last two camps.  Met two Banyamwezi carrying salt to Lobemba, of Moambu.  They went to Kabuire for it, and now retail it on the way back.

At noon we got to the village of Kasiane, which is close to two rivulets, named Lopanza and Lolela.  The headman, a relative of Nsama, brought me a large present of flour of dura, and I gave him two fathoms of calico.

Floods by these sporadic rainfalls have discoloured waters, as seen in Lopanza and Lolela to-day.  The grass is all springing up quickly, and the Maleza growing fast.  The trees generally in full foliage.  Different shades of green, the dark prevailing; especially along rivulets, and the hills in the distance are covered with dark blue haze.  Here, in Lobemba, they are gentle slopes of about 200 or 300 feet, and sandstone crops out over their tops.  In some parts clay schists appear, which look as if they had been fused or were baked by intense heat.