p-eous wooded borders, and beyond these extends
an interesting country. T h e colossal peak of
Kidudu rears its lofty crown to a great height,
and forms a conspicuous landmark, towering
above its less sublime neighbours o f Nguru,
about fifteen or twenty miles north o f the
Wami’s course.
From Mfuteh to Rubuti, a village on the
Lugumbwa creek, which we reached on the 29th,
game is numerous, but the landscape differs
little from that described above. W e crossed
the Wami three times in one march, the or s
being only ¡ 8 feet de^p. Granite boulders
protruded above the surface, and the boiling-
point at one o f the fords showed a considerable
height above the sea. A t one o f the fords there
was a curious suspension-bridge over the river,
constructed o f llianes with great ingenuity b y
the natives. T h e banks were at this point 16 feet
high above the river, and from bank to bank
the distance was only 30 y ards: * waf evldent’
therefore, that the river must be a dangerous
torrent during the rainy season.
T h e road thence, skirting a range o f mountains,
leads across numerous watercourses and
some v e ry clear rivers— one, the Mkmdo, near
Mvomero, being a beautiful stream, and the
water of which I thought v e ry invigorating. I
certainly imagined I felt in excellent spirits the
[Dec. 3, 1874.1 THEWA-NGURU. 1 1 5
[ Mkunai. J
whole o f the day after I had taken a deep
draught o f it!
On the 3rd o f December, we came to the
Mkundi river, a tributary o f the Wami, which
divides Nguru country from Usagara. Simba-
Mwenni, or Simba-Miunyi— the Lion Lord— not
the famous man farther south— owns five villages
in this neighbourhood. He was generous, and
gratified us with a gift o f a sheep, some flour,
and plantains, accepting with pleasure some cloth
in return.
T h e Wa-Nguru speak the same dialect as the
Waseguhha and Wasagara, and affect the same
ornaments, being fond o f black and white beads
and brass wire. T h e y split the lobes o f their
ears, and introduce such curious things as the
necks o f gourds or round disks o f wood to
extend the gash. A medley o f strange things
are worn round the neck, such as tiny goats’
horns, small brass chains, and large e g g - lik e
beads. Blue Kaniki and the red-barred Barsati
are the favourite cloths iti this region. T he natives
dye their faces with ochre, and, prob ably
influenced b y the example o f the Wanyamwezi,
dress their hair in long ringlets, which are adorned
with pendicles o f copper, or white or red
beads o f the large Sam-sam pattern.
Grand and impressive scenery meets the e y e
as we march to Makubika, the next settlement,
where we attain an altitude o f 2675 feet above