16th January, 1873.—­Away north-east and north to get out of the many rivulets near the Lake back to the River Lopopussi, which now looms large, and must be crossed in canoes.  We have to wait in a village till these are brought, and have only got 1-3/4 hour nearly north.

We were treated scurvily by Chungu.  He knew that we were near the Chambeze, but hid the knowledge and himself too.  It is terror of guns.

17th January, 1873.—­We are troubled for want of canoes, but have to treat gently with the owners, otherwise they would all run away, as they have around Chungu’s, in the belief that we should return to punish their silly headman.  By waiting patiently yesterday, we drew about twenty canoes towards us this morning, but all too small for the donkey, so we had to turn away back north-west to the bridge above Chungu’s.  If we had tried to swim the donkey across alongside a canoe it would have been terribly strained, as the Lopopussi is here quite two miles wide and full of rushes, except in the main stream.  It is all deep, and the country being very level as the rivulets come near to the Lake, they become very broad.  Crossed two sponges with rivulets in their centre.

Much cultivation in the forest.  In the second year the mileza and maize are sickly and yellow white; in the first year, with fresh wood ashes, they are dark green and strong.  Very much of the forest falls for manure.  The people seem very eager cultivators.  Possibly mounds have the potash brought up in forming.

18th January, 1873.—­We lost a week by going to Chungu (a worthless terrified headman), and came back to the ford of Lopopussi, which we crossed, only from believing him to be an influential man who would explain the country to us.  We came up the Lopopussi three hours yesterday, after spending two hours in going down to examine the canoes.  We hear that Sayde bin Ali is returning from Katanga with much ivory.

19th January, 1873.—­After prayers we went on to a fine village, and on from it to the Mononse, which, though only ten feet of deep stream flowing S., had some 400 yards of most fatiguing, plunging, deep sponge, which lay in a mass of dark-coloured rushes, that looked as if burnt off:  many leeches plagued us.  We were now two hours out.  We went on two miles to another sponge and village, but went round its head dryshod, then two hours more to sponge Lovu.  Flat forest as usual.

20th January, 1873.—­Tried to observe lunars in vain; clouded over all, thick and muggy.  Came on disappointed and along the Lovu 1-1/2 mile.  Crossed it by a felled tree lying over it.  It is about six feet deep, with 150 yards of sponge.  Marched about 2-1/2 hours:  very unsatisfactory progress.

[In answer to a question as to whether Dr. Livingstone could possibly manage to wade so much, Susi says that he was carried across these sponges and the rivulets on the shoulders of Chowpere or Chumah.]