e we made
comfortable beds for ourselves of grass. Firing muskets to attract the
attention of those who have strayed is the usual resource in these cases.
On this occasion the sound of firearms tended to mislead us; for, hearing
shots next morning, a long weary march led us only to some native
hunters, who had been shooting buffaloes. Returning to a small village,
we met with some people who remembered our passing up to the Lake in the
boat; they were as kind as they could be. The only food they possessed
was tamarinds, prepared with ashes, and a little cowitch meal. The
cowitch, as mentioned before, has a velvety brown covering of minute
prickles, which, if touched, enter the pores of the skin and cause a
painful tingling. The women in times of scarcity collect the pods,
kindle a fire of grass over them to destroy the prickles, then steep the
beans till they begin to sprout, wash them in pure water, and either boil
them or pound them into meal, which resembles our bean-meal. This plant
climbs up the long grass, and abounds in all reedy parts, and, though a
plague to the traveller who touches its pods, it performs good service in
times of famine by saving many a life from starvation. Its name here is
Kitedzi.

Having travelled at least twenty miles in search of our party that day,
our rest on a mat in the best hut of the village was very sweet. We had
dined the evening before on a pigeon each, and had eaten only a handful
of kitedzi porridge this afternoon. The good wife of the village took a
little corn which she had kept for seed, ground it after dark, and made
it into porridge. This, and a cup of wild vegetables of a sweetish taste
for a relish, a little boy brought in and put down, with several vigorous
claps of his hands, in the manner which is esteemed polite, and which is
strictly enjoined on all children.

On the third day of separation, Akosanjere, the headman of this village,
conducted us forward to our party who had gone on to Nseze, a district to
the westward. This incident is mentioned, not for any interest it
possesses, apart from the idea of the people it conveys. We were
completely separated from our men for nearly three days, and had nothing
wherewith to purchase food. The people were sorely pressed by famine and
war, and their hospitality, poor as it was, did them great credit, and
was most grateful to us. Our own men had become confused and wandered,
but had done their utmost to find us