and teak. All is silent in the deep-bosomed
cove except the rhythmic waterfall, and the trees
stand still, as though fascinated by the music,
and the grim heights frown a silent approval; the
pale blue arm of the lake rests expectant for
the moment when it shall receive the impetuous
child of the mountains which it sees leaping
down to it from above, and flashing so brightly
at every great leap. Along the glorious, green,
steep headlands we wind in and out, cast a glance
in at Numbi’s pretty cove, a'nd encamp for the
night near the bold cape of Ulambula.
We resumed the voyage on the 19th, and,
shortly after leaving our camp in the neighbourhood
of the cape, saw a point of land connected
by a narrow neck with the mainland, under
which were two natural arches, spanning two
channels. From the cape the mountain-range
gradually recedes from the lake, until, near the
Rugufu river, it again approaches and finally
forms the headlands of Buyramembe.
A little south of the cape the crest of a small
and lately submerged island was also seen. At
noon I took observations for latitude, at the
north end of Kabogo, an island lying parallel
to the mainland at a distance o f from 300 to
500 yards. On the shores, both of mainland
and island, flourishes the borassus palm. Kabogo
was once densely peopled, but the bandits of
Ndereh, the scourge of Kawendi, have caused
rjune 19, 1876.-] A MYSTERIOUS SILENCE.
L Kiwesa. J
them to emigrate to other districts to crave
protection from chiefs more powerful than
their own.
About 2 P.M. we came in view of Kiwesa,
which appeared from the lake a very large
village. But as we approached its shores under
sail, we were struck with the silence which
reigned around, and the sight of a large herd
of buffalo grazing near the village still more
astonished us.
The guides declared that only five weeks
before they had stopped in it and traded with
Ponda, the chief, and they could give no reason
why—as two boats under sail would most likely
attract the attention of the natives— the people
of Ponda did not appear on the shore.
We resolved to venture in to discover the
cause. There was a deathly silence around.
Numbers of earthenware pots, whole, and apparently
but little used, were strewn about the
beach and among the reeds flanking the path
which led to the village, besides stools, staffs,
hand-brooms, gourds, &c. &c. This was ominous.
There was probably a trap or a snare of some
kind laid for us. We retreated therefore hastily
to the boat and canoe, and thirty men were
armed. Thus, better prepared against the wiles
of savage men, we advanced again cautiously
towards the village.
As we were surmounting the high ground on
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. VOL. III. D