78 MURCHISON CATARACTS. Ch a p . III.
In the first ascent of the Shire our attention was chiefly
directed to the river itself. The delight of threading out
the meanderings of upwards of 2 0 0 miles of a hitherto
unexplored river must be felt to be appreciated. All the
lower part of the river was found to be at least two fathoms
in depth. I t became shallower higher up, where many
departing and re-entering branches diminished the volume of
water, but the absence of sandbanks made it easy of navigation.
We had to exercise the greatest care lest anything
we did should be misconstrued by the crowds who watched
us. After having made, in a straight line, one hundred milès,
although the windings of the river had fully doubled the
distance, we found further progress with the steamer arrested,
in 15° 55' south, by magnificent cataracts, which we called
“ The Murchison,” after one whose name has already a worldwide
fame, and whose generous kindness we can never repay.
The native name of that figured in the woodcut is Mamvira.
I t is that at which the progress of the steamer was first
stopped. The angle of descent is much smaller than that
of the five cataracts above it ; indeed, so small as compared
with them, that after they were discovered this was not included
in the number.
A few days were spent here in the hope that there might
be an opportunity of taking observations for longitude, but
it rained most of the time, or the sky was overcast. I t was
deemed imprudent to risk a land journey whilst the natives
were so very suspicious as to have a strong guard on thé banks
of the river night and day; the weather also was unfavourable.
After sending presents and messages to two of the Chiefs, we
returned to Tette. In going down stream our progress was
rapid, as we were aided by the current. The hippopotami never
made a mistake, but got out of our way. The crocodiles, not