g
sloping banks of about a quarter of a mile down, while the ranges of
hills we crossed as mere ridges now appear behind us in the south.

_27th September, 1867._--The people are numerous and friendly. One
elephant was killed, and we remained to take the ivory from the dead
beast; buffaloes and zebras were also killed. It was so cloudy that no
observations could be taken to determine our position, but Chisera
rises in Lopere. Further west it is free of papyrus, and canoes are
required to cross it.

_28th September, 1867._--Two hours north brought us to the Kamosenga,
a river eight yards wide, of clear water which ran strongly among
aquatic plants. Hippopotami, buffalo, and zebra abound. This goes into
the Chisera eastwards; country flat and covered with dense tangled
bush. Cassias and another tree of the pea family are now in flower,
and perfume the air. Other two hours took us round a large bend of
this river.

_30th September, 1867._.--We crossed the Kamosenga or another, and
reach Karungu's. The Kamosenga divides Lopere from Itawa, the latter
being Nsama's country; Lopere is north-west of it.

_1st October, 1867._--Karungu was very much afraid of us; he kept
every one out of his stockade at first, but during the time the Arabs
sent forward to try and conciliate other chiefs he gradually became
more friendly. He had little ivory to sell, and of those who had,
Mtete or Mtema seemed inclined to treat the messengers roughly. Men
were also sent to Nsama asking him to try and induce Mtema and
Chikongo to be friendly and sell ivory and provisions, but he replied
that these chiefs were not men under him, and if they thought
themselves strong enough to contend against guns he had nothing to say
to them. Other chiefs threatened to run away as soon as they saw the
Arabs approaching. These were assured that we meant to pass through
the country alone, and if they gave us guides to show us how, we
should avoid the villages altogether, and proceed to the countries
where ivory was to be bought; however, the panic was too great, no one
would agree to our overtures, and at last when we did proceed a chief
on the River Choma fulfilled his threat and left us three empty
villages. There were no people to sell though the granaries were
crammed, and it was impossible to prevent the slaves from stealing.

_3rd-4th October, 1867._--When Chikongo heard Tipo Tipo's message
about buying ivory he said, "And when did Tipo Tipo place ivory i