stimulating properties. Finding it of no avail, I then
caused my servant to rub the part with his finger
nnt.il it was excoriated, which, though it proved insufficiently
strong to cure me, was, according to Dr
Bowman, whom I have since consulted, as good a
substitute for a blister as could have been applied.
9th.—The weather still remaining too rough for
sailing, I strolled over the island, and from its summit
on the eastern side I found a good view of the lake,
and took bearings of Ujiji, Insigazi, and a distant
point southwards on the eastern shore of the lake,
called Ukungué. Kivira Island is a massive hill,
about five miles long by two or three broad, and is
irregularly shaped. In places there are high flats,
formed in terraces, but generally the steeps are abrupt
and thickly wooded. The mainland immediately west
is a promontory, at the southern extremity of the
TJfuhha Mountains, on the western D coast of t,he Tanganyika
; and the island is detached from it by so
narrow a strip of water that, unless you obtained a
profile view, it might easily be mistaken for a headland.
The population is considerable, and they live
in mushroom huts, situated on the high flats and easier
slopes, where they cultivate the manioc, sweet potato,
maize, millet, various kinds of pulse, and all the common
vegetables in general use about the country.
Poultry abounds in the villages.
The dress of the people is simple, consisting of small
black monkey skins, cat-skins, and the furs of any
vermin they can get. These are tucked under a waiststrap,
and, according to the number they possess, go
completely or only half-way round the body, the
animals’ heads hanging in front, and the tails always
depending gracefully below. These monkeys are easily
captured when the maize is ripe, by a number of people
stealthily staking small square nets in contiguous
line all round the fields which these animals may be
occupied in robbing, and then with screams and yells,
flinging sticks and stones, the hunters rush upon the
affrighted thieves, till, in their hurry and confusion to
escape, they become irretrievably entangled in the
meshes. But few of these islanders carry spear or
bow, though I imagine all possess them. They were
most unpleasantly inquisitive, and by their stares,
jabber, and pointings, incessantly wanting me to show
them everything that I possessed, with explanations
about their various uses, quite tired out my patience.
If I tried to get away, they plaguingly followed after,
so at last I dodged them by getting into the boat. To
sit in the tent was the worst place of a ll; they would
pull up the sides, and peer under like so many monkeys
; and if I turned my head aside to avoid their
gaze, they would jabber in the most noisy and disagreeable
manner in order to arouse me.
10th.—-We quit Kivira early, and paddling S. 25°
W., make the famous fish-market in the little island
Kabizia, just in time to breakfast on a freshly-caught
fish, the celebrated Singa,—a large, ugly, black-
backed monster, with white belly, small fins, and
long barbs, but no scales. In appearance a sluggish