How I Found Livingstone Travels, Adventures And Discoveries In Central Africa Including Four Months Residence With Dr. Livingstone By Sir Henry M. Stanley
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We Arrived At The Rugufu River - Not The Ukawendi Rugufu, But The
Northern Stream Of That Name, A Tributary Of The Malagarazi.
It
was a broad shallow stream, and sluggish, with an almost imperceptible
flow south-west.
While we halted in the deep shade afforded by a
dense clump of jungle, close to the right bank, resting awhile before
continuing our journey. I distinctly heard a sound as of distant
thunder in the west. Upon asking if it were thunder, I was told it
was Kabogo.
"Kabogo? what is that?"
"It is a great mountain on the other side of the Tanganika, full
of deep holes, into which the water rolls; and when there is wind
on the Tanganika, there is a sound like mvuha (thunder). Many
boats have been lost there, and it is a custom with Arabs and
natives to throw cloth - Merikani and Kaniki - and especially white
(Merikani) beads, to appease the mulungu (god) of the lake.
Those who throw beads generally get past without trouble,
but those who do not throw beads into the lake get lost, and are
drowned. Oh, it is a dreadful place!" This story was told me by
the ever-smiling guide Asmani, and was corroborated by other
former mariners of the lake whom I had with me.
At the least, this place where we halted for dinner, on the banks
of the Rugufu River, is eighteen and a half hours, or forty-six
miles, from Ujiji; and, as Kabogo is said to be near Uguhha, it
must be over sixty miles from Ujiji; therefore the sound of the
thundering surf, which is said to roll into the caves of Kabogo,
was heard by us at a distance of over one hundred miles away from
them.
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