The information of such an intelligent man as
Ruhinga is not to be despised; for, if Lake Albert came within a
hundred miles of the Tanganika, he would surely have heard of its
existence, even if he had not seen it himself. Originally he came
from Mutumbi, and he has travelled from that country into Mugihewa,
the district he now governs. He has seen Mwezi, the great King of
Urundi, and describes him as a man about forty years old, and as a
very good man.
Our work was now done; there was nothing more to detain us at
Mugihewa. Ruhinga had been exceedingly kind, and given us one
ox after another to butcher and eat. Mukamba had done the same.
Their women had supplied us with an abundance of milk and butter,
and we had now bounteous supplies of both.
The Doctor had taken a series of observations for latitude and
longitude; and Mugihewa was made out to be in 3 degrees 19 minutes
S. latitude.
On the 7th December, early in the morning, we left Mugihewa, and
rowing past the southern extremity of the Katangara Islands, we
approached the highlands of Uashi near the boundary line between
Mukamba's country and Uvira. The boundary line is supposed to be
a wide ravine, in the depths of which is a grove of tall, beautiful,
and straight-stemmed trees, out of which the natives make their canoes.
Passing Kanyamabengu River, which issues into the lake close to the
market-ground of Kirabula, the extreme point of Burton and Speke's
explorations of the Tanganika, we steered south along the western
shore of the lake for half an hour longer to Kavimba, where we
halted to cook breakfast.
The village where lived Mruta, the King of Uvira, was in sight of
our encampment, and as we observed parties of men ascending and
descending the mountains much more often than we thought augured
good to ourselves, we determined to continue on our course south.
Besides, there was a party of disconsolate-looking Wajiji here,
who had been plundered only a few days before our arrival, for
attempting, as the Wavira believed, to evade the honga payment.
Such facts as these, and our knowledge of the general state of
insecurity in the country, resulting from the many wars in which
the districts of the Tanganika were engaged, determined us not to
halt at Kavimba.
We embarked quickly in our boat before the Wavira had collected
themselves, and headed south against a strong gale, which came
driving down on us from the south-west.
