The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868Livingstone, David
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The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868
Livingstone, David
Africa, Central -- Description and travel
Mohamad is naturally anxious to stay a little while with his son, for
it is a wet season, and the mud is disagreeable to travel over: it is
said to be worse near Ujiji: he cooks small delicacies for me with the
little he has, and tries to make me comfortable. Vinegar is made from
bananas, and oil from ground-nuts. I am anxious to be off, but
chiefly to get news.
I find that many Unyamwesi people are waiting here, on account of the
great quantity of rainwater in front: it would be difficult, they say,
to get canoes on Tanganyika, as the waves are now large.
_24th January, 1868._--Two of Mohamad Bogharib's people came from
Casembe's to trade here, and a body of Syde bin Habib's people also
from Garaganza, near Kaze, they report the flooded lands on this side
of Lake Tanganyika as waist and chest deep. Bin Habib, being at
Katanga, will not stir till the rains are over, and I fear we are
storm-stayed till then too. The feeders of the Marungu are not
fordable just now, and no canoes are to be had.
_26th and 27th January, 1868._--I am ill with fever, as I always am
when stationary.
_28th January, 1868._--Better, and thankful to Him of the Greatest
Name. We must remain; it is a dry spot, and favourable for
ground-nuts. _Hooping-cough_ here.
_30th January, 1868._--The earth cooled by the rain last night sets
all to transplanting dura or sorghum; they cut the leaves till only
about eighteen inches of them are left, but it grows all the better
for the change of place.
Mohamad believes that Tanganyika flows through Rusizi to Lohinde.
(Chuambo.)
Seyd Seyd is said to have been the first Arab Sultan who traded, and
Seyed Majid follows the example of his father, and has many Arab
traders in his employment. He lately sent eight buffaloes to Mteza,
king of Uganda, son of Sunna, by way of increasing his trade, but if
is not likely that he will give up the lucrative trade in ivory and
slaves.
Susi bought a hoe with a little gunpowder, then a cylinder of dura,
three feet long by two feet in diameter, for the hoe: it is at least
one hundredweight.
Stone underground houses are reported in Rua, but whether natural or
artificial Mohamad could not say. If a present is made to the Rua
chiefs they never obstruct passengers.
Chikosi, at whose village we passed a night, near Kalongosi, and
Chiputa are both dead.
The Mofwe fills during the greater rains, and spreads over a large
district; elephants then wander in its marshes, and are killed easily
by people in canoes: this happens every year, and Mohamad Bogharib
waits now for this ivory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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