endeavour to do the work that has been given me to do, whether I succeed or whether I fail.  The prospect of death in pursuing what I knew to be right did not make me veer to one side or the other.  I had a strong presentiment during the first three years that I should never live through the enterprise, but it weakened as I came near to the end of the journey, and an eager desire to discover any evidence of the great Moses having visited these parts bound me, spell-bound me, I may say, for if I could bring to light anything to confirm the Sacred Oracles, I should not grudge one whit all the labour expended.  I have to go down the Central Lualaba or Webb’s Lake River, then up the Western or Young’s Lake River to Katanga head waters and then retire.  I pray that it may be to my native home.

Syde bin Habib, Dugumbe, Juma Merikano, Abdullah Masendi are coming in with 700 muskets, and an immense store of beads, copper, &c.  They will cross Lualaba and trade west of it:  I wait for them because they may have letters for me.

28th October, 1870.—­Moenemokata, who has travelled further than most Arabs, said to me, “If a man goes with a good-natured, civil tongue, he may pass through the worst people in Africa unharmed:”  this is true, but time also is required:  one must not run through a country, but give the people time to become acquainted with you, and let their first fears subside.

29th October, 1870.—­The Manyuema buy their wives from each other; a pretty girl brings ten goats.  I saw one brought home to-day; she came jauntily with but one attendant, and her husband walking behind.  They stop five days, then go back and remain other five days at home:  then the husband fetches her again.  Many are pretty, and have perfect forms and limbs.

31st October, 1870.—­Monangoi, of Luamo, married to the sister of Moenekuss, came some time ago to beg that Kanyingere might be attacked by Mohamad’s people:  no fault has he, “but he is bad.”  Monangoi, the chief here, offered two tusks to effect the same thing; on refusal, he sends the tusks to Katomba, and may get his countryman spoiled by him.  “He is bad,” is all they can allege as a reason.  Meantime this chief here caught a slave who escaped, a prisoner from Moene-mokia’s, and sold him or her to Moene-mokia for thirty spears and some knives; when asked about this captive, he said, “She died:”  it was simply theft, but he does not consider himself bad.

2nd November, 1870.—­The plain without trees that flanks the Lualaba on the right bank, called Mbuga, is densely peopled, and the inhabitants are all civil and friendly.  From fifty to sixty large canoes come over from the left bank daily to hold markets; these people too “are good,” but the dwellers in the Metamba or dense forest are treacherous and murder a single person without scruple:  the dead body is easily concealed, while on the plain all would become aware of it.