31st July, 1871.—­Passed through the defile between Mount Kimazi and Mount Kijila.  Below the cave with stalactite pillar in its door a fine echo answers those who feel inclined to shout to it.  Come to Mangala’s numerous villages, and two slaves being ill, rest on Wednesday.

1st August, 1871.—­A large market assembles close to us.

2nd August, 1871.—­Left Mangala’s, and came through a great many villages all deserted on our approach on account of the vengeance taken by Dugumbe’s party for the murder of some of their people.  Kasongo’s men appeared eager to plunder their own countrymen:  I had to scold and threaten them, and set men to watch their deeds.  Plantains are here very abundant, good, and cheap.  Came to Kittette, and lodge in a village of Loembo.  About thirty foundries were passed; they are very high in the roof, and thatched with leaves, from which the sparks roll off as sand would.  Rain runs off equally well.

3rd August, 1871.—­Three slaves escaped, and not to abandon ivory we wait a day, Kasongo came up and filled their places.

I have often observed effigies of men made of wood in Manyuema; some of clay are simply cones with a small hole in the top; on asking about them here, I for the first time obtained reliable information.  They are called Bathata—­fathers or ancients—­and the name of each is carefully preserved.  Those here at Kittette were evidently the names of chiefs, Molenda being the most ancient, whilst Mbayo Yamba, Kamoanga, Kitambwe, Nongo, Aulumba, Yenge Yenge, Simba Mayanga, Loembwe, are more recently dead.  They were careful to have the exact pronunciation of the names.  The old men told me that on certain occasions they offer goat’s flesh to them:  men eat it, and allow no young person or women to partake.  The flesh of the parrot is only eaten by very old men.  They say that if eaten by young men their children will have the waddling gait of the bird.  They say that originally those who preceded Molenda came from Kongolakokwa, which conveys no idea to my mind.  It was interesting to get even this little bit of history here. (Nkongolo = Deity; Nkongolokwa as the Deity.)

4th August, 1871.—­Came through miles of villages all burned because the people refused a certain Abdullah lodgings!  The men had begun to re-thatch the huts, and kept out of our way, but a goat was speared by some one in hiding, and we knew danger was near.  Abdullah admitted that he had no other reason for burning them than the unwillingness of the people to lodge him and his slaves without payment, with the certainty of getting their food stolen and utensils destroyed.

5th and 6th August, 1871.—­Through many miles of palm-trees and plantains to a Boma or stockaded village, where we slept, though the people were evidently suspicious and unfriendly.

7th August, 1871.—­To a village, ill and almost every step in pain.  The people all ran away, and appeared in the distance armed, and refused to come near—­then came and threw stones at us, and afterwards tried to kill those who went for water.  We sleep uncomfortably, the natives watching us all round.  Sent men to see if the way was clear.