m struck the boat, nothing could have
saved her from being swamped. For six hours they remained at anchor a
little from the shore, thus exposed to the fury of the gale. The crew
became sea-sick and unable to keep the boat's head to the sea, while
some of their party who had remained on shore watched them, the natives
every moment exclaiming: "They are lost! they are all dead!"

After this, every night they hauled the boat up on the beach; and, had
it not been supposed that these storms were peculiar to one season, they
would have given the Nyassa the name of the "Lake of Storms."

A dense population exists on the shores of the lake, some being a tribe
of Zulus who came from the south some years ago. They own large herds
of cattle, and are on the increase by uniting other people to
themselves. The marshy spots are tenanted by flocks of ducks, geese,
cranes, herons, and numerous other birds. The people cultivate the
soil, growing large quantities of rice, sweet potatoes, maize, and
millet. Those at the north end reap a curious harvest. Clouds of what
appeared to be smoke rising from miles of burning grass were seen in the
distance. The appearance was caused by countless millions of midges.
As the voyagers' boat passed through them, eyes and mouth had to be kept
closed. The people collect these insects by night, and boil them into
thick cakes, to be eaten as a relish. One of the cakes, which tasted
like salted locusts, was presented to the doctor.

Abundance of fish were caught, some with nets and others with hook and
line. Women were seen fishing, with babies on their backs.

Enormous crocodiles were seen, but, as they can obtain abundance of
fish, they seldom attack men. When, however, its proper food is scarce,
the crocodile, as is always the case, becomes very dangerous.

The lake tribes appear to be open-handed, and, whenever a net was drawn,
fish was invariably offered. On one occasion the inhabitants, on their
arrival, took out their seine, dragged it, and made their visitors a
present of the entire haul. The chiefs treated them also with
considerable kindness. One at the north of Marenga, who was living in a
stockade in a forest surrounded by a wide extent of country, which he
owned, made them beautiful presents. The doctor admiring an iron
bracelet studded with copper which the chief wore, he took it off and
presented to him, while his wife did the same with hers.

Wherever the slave trade is