Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/539

 The plateau sloping southwards, on which rise the headwaters of the Tchambezi, is inhabited chiefly by the Bemba nation (Ba-Emba, Mu-Emba, Lo-Bemba, Vua-Emba). At the time of Giraud's visit, in 1884,'the Bemba empire stretched north to Tanganyika, east to Nyassa, west to Bangweolo and Moero, the whole of the interlacustrine space north of the uplands held by the Wa-Biza being comprised within its limits. Even the Kazembe, whose ancestors had ruled over a great part of Central Africa, as well as the formerly powerful Wa-Biza, south of the Tchambesi, had been "eaten," as the natives express it.

The capital of the Bemba state, situated on the plain north of the extensive marshlands traversed by the Tchambezi, comprised in 1884 some four or five

hundred huts, covering too large a space to be entirely enclosed by palisades, Inks the other villages. In these regions the villages take the names of the ruling chiefs, and the capital, at that time called Ketimkuru's, is now known as Marukutu's. Incessant wars have to a great extent depopulated the country; hamlets are rare, and in some districts are exposed to the constant attacks of marauders, so that the wretched peasants prefer camping amid the anthills, and stealthily cultivating the land. When corn fails, they fall back on mushrooms, roots, bark, and boiled foliage.

The Ba-Bemba, physically one of the finest Bantu peoples, wear skins a: bast when unable to procure woven goods from the Arab traders, and all delight