IOÓ THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT rAPril 3°> 1877,1
‘ L Nzabi Cove. J
lightness and softness, with sufficient strength
and the “ ubani,” or “ lubani” as the Wangwana
called it, was pronounced the best. I discovered
that the largest trees grew on the narrow terrace,
which was from one hundred to two hundred
yards wide, and about forty feet above the river;
but this Boswellia grew about fifty yards above
the terrace on the slope; from this the slope
rose to the height of 1000 feet, at an angle of
450, densely covered along its whole length with
magnificent timber.
The next day the chief carnè. He was a fine
genial old man, bald-headed and jovial-featured;
and would have made an admirable Uncle Tom.
It was not long before we perfectly understood
each other. He gave me permission to choose
any of the largest trees in his country, and promised
to visit me each day while in the cove.
Meanwhile, as an earnest of his friendship, he
begged my acceptance of a gourdful of palm-
wine, and some ripe plantains, guavas, and papaws.
On the 1 st May, Uledi, with a cry of “Bis-
millah! at the first blow, struck his axe into
the tree, and two others chimed in, and in two
hours, with a roaring crash which made the
deep gòrge of the river return a thundering
echo, the ubani fell; but, alas! it fell across a
gigantic granite rock, about thirty feet square.
And then began the work of rolling the great
by means of enormous, levers, with cables
rMay i-*>„ i877-T
L Nzabi Cove. J
CUTTING CANOES. 107
Of ficus attached to the end, and the suspended
weight of fifteen people, and by noon, to the
astonishment of the natives, it was lengthways
along the ground. I measured out the log, 37
feet 5 inches; depth, « feet; breadth a feet 8
inches, and out of this we carved the Stanley
canoe, in place of the unfortunate Stanley which
had been irretrievably lost on the 1st April. In
order to ensure both speed and systematic work,
each of the boat’s crew, who were now converted
into shipbuilders, was allotted 3% fee
as his share, with a promise of reward proportionate
to the skill and energy which he displayed.
It was refreshing to see, during; th e
whole time he was employed on it, how Uledi
swung his axe like a proficient workman who
loved his work. He never gave a half-hearted
stroke, but drove his axe into the tree with a,
vigour which was delightful to regard, elicit g
the admiration of the aborigines, who woul
stand round us for hours wondennf / V , nd
that there lived a man who could thus len
every fibre of his body to m e r e work and was
an enthusiast to duty. On the 8th the canoe
was finished, except for a few finishing touches
which were entrusted to the chief carpenter of
the E x p ed it io n , Salaam Allah.
Having yet a few days to spare, we cut an
other huge tree down— a teak—to replace t e
little Jason that Soudi Turu had lost at a ,