; on our rejoining them, the ox was
slain, and all, having been on short commons, rejoiced in this "day of
slaughter." Akosanjere was, of course, rewarded to his heart's content.

As we pursued our way, we came close up to a range of mountains, the most
prominent peak of which is called Mvai. This is a great, bare, rounded
block of granite shooting up from the rest of the chain. It and several
other masses of rock are of a light grey colour, with white patches, as
if of lichens; the sides and summits are generally thinly covered with
rather scraggy trees. There are several other prominent peaks--one, for
instance, still further north, called Chirobve. Each has a name, but we
could never ascertain that there was an appellation which applied to the
whole. This fact, and our wish to commemorate the name of Dr. Kirk,
induced us afterwards, when we could not discover a particular peak
mentioned to us formerly as Molomo-ao-koku, or Cock's-bill, to call the
whole chain from the west of the Cataracts up to the north end of the
Lake, "Kirk's Range." The part we slept at opposite Mvai was named
Paudio, and was evidently a continuation of the district of one of our
stations on the Shire, at which observations for latitude were formerly
taken.

Leaving Paudio, we had Kirk's Range close on our left and at least 3000
feet above us, and probably not less than 5000 feet above the sea. Far
to our right extended a long green wooded country rising gradually up to
a ridge, ornamented with several detached mountains, which bounded the
Shire Valley. In front, northwards, lay a valley as rich and lovely as
we ever saw anywhere, terminating at the mountains, which, stretched away
some thirty miles beyond our range of vision and ended at Cape Maclear.
The groups of trees had never been subjected to the landscape gardener's
art; but had been cut down mercilessly, just as suited the convenience of
the cultivator; yet the various combinations of open forest, sloping
woodland, grassy lawns, and massive clumps of dark green foliage along
the running streams, formed as beautiful a landscape as could be seen on
the Thames. This valley is named Goa or Gova, and as we moved through it
we found that what was smooth to the eye was very much furrowed by
running streams winding round innumerable knolls. These little brooklets
came down from the range on our left, and the water was deliciously cool.

When we came abreast of the peak Chirobve, the