Lukanjah and Mikondo. Their assistance was
valuable only as the means o f furnishing me
with the names o f localities between Refuge
Island and Uzongora.
In the same manner that we had left Kagehyi
w e departed from Refuge Island, viz. b y embarking
the garrison, and leaving those who had
stayed at K a g eh y i to rest upon Refuge Island
until we should return for them.
The night was passed with a wild dance under
the moonlight, at which three kings were present,
w h o participated with all the light-hearted gaiety
o f children in the jo you s sport.
t Old Kijaju distinguished himself on the wild
“ fantastic to e ” most extraordinarily. Itawagum-
b a , jealous o f his uncle’s performance, exerted
himself with mad vigour, and the stalwart chief
o f Bwina bounded upward as though performing
on the flying trapeze. Young Lukanjah of
Uke rewe , and his roy al relative Mikondo, with
all the suppleness o f acrobats, made their debut
on this night with great spirit, and the hundred
warriors from the mainland sang to the dance
with such force o f lungs as startled the colossal
ro cks o f Refuge Island into echoing the wild
harmony. The Wangwana, headed b y Frank
and the gallant Manwa Sera, enlarged the vast
circle with 150 men and 20 women, and all voices
chimed to the song whieh old Kijaju sang to
[ Ä d l i S . ] l e a v in g r e f u g e i s l a n d . 3 7
celebrate the day on which the white chief made
brotherhood with the king o f Komeh.
Refreshments were not wanting to cheer the
dancers. Great masses o f b ee f were roasted
over glorious fires, and many jars o f beer and
maramba, brought from Bwina and Komeh,
invited the special attention o f the thirsty.
A s we left Refuge Island, on the morning o f
the 18th July, the guides furnished b y Kijaju,
king o f Komeh, propitiated the genius o f the
lake with beads given to him for the occasion,
and adjured it b y saying:—
“ Be kind to the white M’kama, O Nianja, I
charge thee! Give him a safe and prosperous
voyage across th y wide waters.”
From Kazaradzi Island, on which we rested
for the night, we beheld a most glorious sunset.
The western s k y , halfway up to the zenith, was
all aglow for about an hour with resplendent
gold, which tinted mountain, hill, plain, and
lake with the reflection o f the lustrous hue.
Next day we sailed for Wawizua Island; and
on the 20th, passing b y the picturesque islands
o f Mysomeh and Rumondo— every canoe
hoisting small lug-sails, made o f the loin-cloths
of the crew, in order to benefit b y the strong
south-easter— we steered for Nameterre Island,
where we arrived without accident.