The more enchanting to our eyes, as it
was the first we had met since leaving the sea-coast. The Diwan,
or head man, was a very civil creature; he presented us freely
with two fine goats - a thing at that time we were very much in
want of - and took, in return, without any comments, one dubani
and eight yards merikani.
The next day, as we had no further need of our Beluch escort, a
halt was made to enable me to draw up a "Progress Report," and
pack all the specimens of natural history collected on the way,
for the Royal Geographical Society. Captain Grant, taking
advantage of the spare time, killed for the larder two buck
antelopes, and the Tots brought in, in high excited triumph, a
famous pig.
This march, which declines from the Kingani a little, leads
through rolling, jungly ground, full of game, to the tributary
stream Mgeta. It is fordable in the dry season, but has to be
bridged by throwing a tree across it in the wet one. Rising in
the Usagara hills to the west of the hog-backed Mkambaku, this
branch intersects the province of Ukhutu in the centre, and
circles round until it unites with the Kingani about four miles
north of the ford.
