One was breaking trees close by.

I fired into his ear without effect: I am too weak to hold the gun steadily.
_30th April, 1867._--We begin our return march from Liemba.

Slept at a village on the Lake, and went on next day to Pambete, where we first touched it.

I notice that here the people pound tobacco-leaves in a mortar after they have undergone partial fermentation by lying in the sun, then they put the mass in the sun to dry for use.
The reason why no palm-oil trees grow further east than Pambete is said to be the stony soil there, and this seems a valid one, for it loves rich loamy meadows.
_1st May, 1867._--We intended to go north-west to see whether this Lake narrows or not, for all assert that it maintains its breadth such as we see it beyond Pemba as far as they know it; but when about to start the headman and his wife came and protested so solemnly that by going N.W.we should walk into the hands of a party of Mazitu there, that we deferred our departure.

It was not with a full persuasion of the truth of the statement that I consented, but we afterwards saw good evidence that it was true, and that we were saved from being plundered.