102 THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. rAPril 28> $7.1
L Inkisi Falls. J
a “ high art” dish. Frank approached also to
receive instruction, so that, in my absence, he
might remind Marzouk, the cook, of each particular.
First we rinsed in clear cold brook-water
from the ravines some choice cassava or manioc
tops, and these were placed in the water to be
bruised. Marzouk understood this part very well,
and soon pounded them to the consistence of a
green porridge. To this I then added fifty
shelled nuts of the Arachis hypogoea, three small
specimens of the Dioscorea alata boiled and
sliced cold, a tablespoonful of oil extracted from
the Arachis hypogoea, a tablespoonful of wine o f
the Elais Guineensis, a little salt, and sufficient
powdered capsicum. This imposing and admirable
mixture was pounded together, fried, and
brought into the tent, along with toasted cassava
pudding, hot and steaming, on the only iDelft
plate we possessed. Within a few minutes our
breakfast was spread out on the medicine-chest
which served me for a table, and at once a keen
appetite was inspired by the grateful smell of
my artful compound. After invoking a short
blessing, Frank and I rejoiced our souls and
stomachs with the savoury mess, and flattered
ourselves that, though British paupers and Sing-
Sing convicts might fare better perhaps, thankful
content crowned our hermit repast.
Glorious timber-cutting canoes-Frank suffers from u lc e r s -
The episode of the fetished axe-Rain-gauge readings
The rise of the r i v e r - “ Goee-goees” - T h e
breached for the. first tim e -A painful discovery. Uledi s
theft-His trial and release-The burning of Shakespeare-
Dark bees-wax, india-rubber, and fossilized gum at Mowa
-Superstitiousness of the Mowa people-Frank s 'cheery
character. (Apru 29_june 2, 1877-)
On the morning of the 29th April, after
the necessary instructions to Manwa Sera and his
brother chiefs, and obtaining the promise of the
Babwende elders that they would do their utmost
to help in transporting the vessels over
the three miles of ground between Inkisi Falls
and Nzabi, I led the caravan, loaded with the
goods, down to a cove at the upper end o
Nzabi. After erecting a rude camp, the more
active men were directed to reascend the tableland
to their duty, and in the afternoon two men
were despatched to the old chief of Nzabi, desiring
him to come and Visit me. Meanwhile I explored
a thick forest of tall trees, that flourishe
to an immense height along a narrow terrace,
and up the steep slopes of Nzabi. For thoug
cliffs were frequent on the left side of the river,