19th February, 1873.—­A cold wet morning keeps us in this uncomfortable spot.  When it clears up we go to an old stockade, to be near an islet to buy food.  The people, knowing our need, are extortionate.  We went on at 9 A.M. over an extensive water-covered plain.  I was carried three miles to a canoe, and then in it we went westward, in branches of the Luena, very deep and flowing W. for three hours.  I was carried three miles to a canoe, and we were then near enough to hear Bangweolo bellowing.  The water on the plain is four, five, and seven feet deep.  There are rushes, ferns, papyrus, and two lotuses, in abundance.  Many dark grey caterpillars clung to the grass and were knocked off as we paddled or poled.  Camped in an old village of Matipa’s, where, in the west, we see the Luena enter Lake Bangweolo; but all is flat prairie or buga, filled with fast-flowing water, save a few islets covered with palms and trees.  Rain continued sprinkling us from the N.W. all the morning.  Elephants had run riot over the ruins, eating a species of grass now in seed.  It resembles millet, and the donkey is fond of it.  I have only seen this and one other species of grass in seed eaten by the African elephant.  Trees, bulbs, and fruits are his dainties, although ants, whose hills he overturns, are relished.  A large party in canoes came with food as soon as we reached our new quarters:  they had heard that we were in search of Matipa.  All are eager for calico, though they have only raw cassava to offer.  They are clothed in bark-cloth and skins.  Without canoes no movement can be made in any direction, for it is water everywhere, water above and water below.

20th February, 1873.—­I sent a request to a friendly man to give me men, and a large canoe to go myself to Matipa; he says that he will let me know to-day if he can.  Heavy rain by night and drizzling by day.  No definite answer yet, but we are getting food, and Matipa will soon hear of us as he did when we came and returned back for food.  I engaged another man to send a canoe to Matipa, and I showed him his payment, but retain it here till he comes back.

21st February, 1873.—­The men engaged refuse to go to Matipa’s, they have no honour.  It is so wet we can do nothing.  Another man spoken to about going, says that they run the risk of being killed by some hostile people on another island between this and Matipa’s.

22nd February, 1873.—­A wet morning.  I was ill all yesterday, but escape fever by haemorrhage.  A heavy mantle of N.W. clouds came floating over us daily.  No astronomical observation can possibly be taken.  I was never in such misty cloudy weather in Africa.  A man turned up at 9 A.M. to carry our message to Matipa; Susi and Chumah went with him.  The good Lord go with them, and lend me influence and grant me help.

23rd February, 1873, Sunday.—­Service.  Rainy.

24th February, 1873.—­Tried hard for a lunar, but the moon was lost in the glare of the sun.