December, 1868, Christmas Day._--We can buy nothing except the
very coarsest food--not a goat or fowl--while Syde, having plenty of
copper, can get all the luxuries. We marched past Mount Katanga,
leaving it on our left, to the River Kapeta, and slaughtered a
favourite kid to make a Christmas dinner. A trading-party came up from
Ujiji; they said that we were ten camps from Tanganyika. They gave an
erroneous report that a steamer with a boat in tow was on Lake
Chowambe--an English one, too, with plenty of cloth and beads on
board. A letter had come from Abdullah bin Salem, Moslem missionary at
Mtesa's, to Ujiji three months ago with this news.

_26th December, 1868._--We marched up an ascent 2-1/2 hours, and got
on to the top of one of the mountain ridges, which generally run N.
and S. Three hours along this level top brought us to the Kibawe
River, a roaring rivulet beside villages. There were no people on the
height over which we came, though the country is very fine--green and
gay with varying shades of that colour. We passed through patches of
brackens five feet high and gingers in flower, and were in a damp
cloud all day. Now and then a drizzle falls in these parts, but it
keeps all damp only, and does not show in the rain-gauge. Neither sun
nor stars appear.

_27th and 28th December, 1868._--Remain on Sunday, then march and
cross five rivulets about four yards wide and knee deep, going to the
Lofunso. The grass now begins to cover and hide the paths; its growth
is very rapid: blobs of water lie on the leaves all day, and keep the
feet constantly wet by falling as we pass.

_29th December, 1868._--We kept well on the ridge between two ranges
of hills; then went down, and found a partially-burned native
stockade, and lodged in it; the fires of the Ujiji party had set the
huts on fire after the party left. We are in the Itande district at
the Nswiba River.

_30th December, 1868._--We now went due east, and made a good deal of
easting too from Mount Katanga on the Lofunso, and crossed the River
Lokivwa, twelve yards wide, and very deep, with villages all about. We
ascended much as we went east. Very high mountains appeared on the
N.W. The woods dark gieen, with large patches of a paler hue.

_31st December, 1868._--We reached the Lofuko yesterday in a pelting
rain; not knowing that the camp with huts was near, I stopped and put
on a bernouse, got wet, and had no dry clothes. Remain to-day to buy
food. Clouds cove