exceedingly fertile plain,
nearly two miles broad, and studded with a number of deserted villages.
The inhabitants were living in temporary huts on low naked sandbanks; and
we found this to be the case as far as we went. They leave most of their
property and food behind, because they are not afraid of these being
stolen, but only fear being stolen themselves. The great slave-route
from Nyassa to Kilwa passes to N.E. from S.W., just beyond them; and it
is dangerous to remain in their villages at this time of year, when the
kidnappers are abroad. In one of the temporary villages, we saw, in
passing, two human heads lying on the ground. We slept a couple of miles
above this village.

Before sunrise next morning, a large party armed with bows and arrows and
muskets came to the camp, two or three of them having a fowl each, which
we refused to purchase, having bought enough the day before. They
followed us all the morning, and after breakfast those on the left bank
swam across and joined the main party on the other side. It was
evidently their intention to attack us at a chosen spot, where we had to
pass close to a high bank, but their plan was frustrated by a stiff
breeze sweeping the boat past, before the majority could get to the
place. They disappeared then, but came out again ahead of us, on a high
wooded bank, walking rapidly to the bend, near which we were obliged to
sail. An arrow was shot at the foremost boat; and seeing the force at
the bend, we pushed out from the side, as far as the shoal water would
permit, and tried to bring them to a parley, by declaring that we had not
come to fight, but to see the river. "Why did you fire a gun, a little
while ago?" they asked. "We shot a large puff-adder, to prevent it from
killing men; you may see it lying dead on the beach." With great
courage, our Mokadamo waded to within thirty yards of the bank, and spoke
with much earnestness, assuring them that we were a peaceable party, and
had not come for war, but to see the river. We were friends, and our
countrymen bought cotton and ivory, and wished to come and trade with
them. All we wanted was to go up quietly to look at the river, and then
return to the sea. While he was talking with those on the shore, the old
rogue, who appeared to be the ringleader, stole up the bank, and with a
dozen others, waded across to the island, near which the boats lay, and
came down behind us. Wild with excitement, they rushed int