ON THE B AN KS OF THE MVUDZI. 73
Mountains with cone-shaped summits were seen on the left.
One, of pyramid form, was called Bonamarungo.
Our descent brought us to the Mvudzi river, which
is a large and very clear stream, shaded by two mountain
ridges. I t was quite a glad and refreshing sight to see
the waters tumbling and splashing in silvery sprays
around the polished boulders; and it was music to the
ear to listen to the merry rippling and gurgling as the
stream danced on its way, sometimes broken by sudden
and pretty falls. On the banks, the long grass droops and
quivers with the stroke of the flashing mountain stream,
which flows in a westerly direction onwards to the Bevuqwe
river, just above the chief town of the Makanga king.
Palms and a great variety of large forest trees clothe
the steep slopes which rise from the river’s banks.
Kingfishers, spoonbills, divers, and other water birds
swooped past, alighting gracefully upon the boughs which
in fantastic beauty overhung the happy waters. No song
of birds, however, enlivened the ear.
Fish might be seen in every pool. In shape they seemed
to resemble perch.
By this flowing waterside I was quite ready and even
glad to make a halt. All the party were in need of rest.
The sun was a quarter high, and we had been on the
march sixteen hours since leaving the Palm Wells.
During the whole of that time we had not eaten anything,
neither had we moistened our lips. I t was one of the
longest and most exciting nights I have ever spent.
After a long sleep I awoke and shouted out for Misiri. I
told him that I would like some coffee, and asked him for
the sugar, of which I had a fairly good supply when we
started. At this request Misiri’s expression became as uneasy
as it had been in the morning, when I had asked for the