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collected there for the poor protection which the reeds afforded. For
miles along the water's edge was one continuous village of temporary
huts. The people had brought a little corn with them; but they said,
"What shall we eat when that is done? When we plant corn, the wild
beasts (Zinyama, as they call the Mazitu) come and take it. When we
plant cassava, they do the same. How are we to live?" A poor blind
woman, thinking we were Mazitu, rushed off in front of us with outspread
arms, lifting the feet high, in the manner peculiar to those who have
lost their sight, and jumped into the reeds of a stream for safety.

In our way along the shores we crossed several running rivulets of clear
cold water, which, from having reeds at their confluences, had not been
noticed in our previous exploration in the boat. One of these was called
Mokola, and another had a strong odour of sulphuretted hydrogen. We
reached Molamba on the 8th September, and found our old acquaintance,
Nkomo, there still. One of the advantages of travelling along the shores
of the Lake was, that we could bathe anywhere in its clear fresh water.
To us, who had been obliged so often to restrain our inclination in the
Zambesi and Shire for fear of crocodiles, this was pleasant beyond
measure. The water now was of the same temperature as it was on our
former visit, or 72 degrees Fahr. The immense depth of the Lake prevents
the rays of the sun from raising the temperature as high as that of the
Shire and Zambesi; and the crocodiles, having always clear water in the
Lake, and abundance of fish, rarely attack man; many of these reptiles
could be seen basking on the rocks.

A day's march beyond Molamba brought us to the lakelet Chia, which lies
parallel with the Lake. It is three or four miles long, by from one to
one and a half broad, and communicates with the Lake by an arm of good
depth, but with some rocks in it. As we passed up between the Lake and
the eastern shore of this lakelet, we did not see any streams flowing
into it. It is quite remarkable for the abundance of fish; and we saw
upwards of fifty large canoes engaged in the fishery, which is carried on
by means of hand-nets with side-frame poles about seven feet long. These
nets are nearly identical with those now in use in Normandy--the
difference being that the African net has a piece of stick lashed across
the handle-ends of the side poles to keep them steady, which is a great
improvem