Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/553

 South of U-Vinza the districts of U-Galla, on the river of like name, and U-Kahwende, on the east side of Tanganyika, still lie within the Malagarazi basin. Here are no large villages or important markets; but farther south on the coast lies the European station of Karema, founded in 1879 by the International African Association, and afterwards ceded to the French Catholic missionaries under the prospective sovereignty of Germany. This place, crowning a small hill at the mouth of the Ifume, has already acquired a certain historic celebrity, thanks to the explorers who have made it the centre of their expeditions. When the fort was erected the bluff stood at the edge of the water, which has retired several hundred yards, since the lake has again begun to send its overflow through the Lu-Kuga emissary. In the neighbourhood a large native village has sprung up about 2 miles from the coast, and the slopes of the hill and surrounding low-lying tracts have been laid out by the Belgians with gardens and plantations.

South of Karema the coast is indented by numerous creeks, some of which might become excellent havens. The Kirando inlet, occurring at the narrowest part of the lake, 45 miles from Karema, is completely sheltered by a cluster of neighbouring islets, several large villages are dotted over the district, and extensive rice-fields are spread over the surrounding plains. This region belongs to the Vua-Fifa, a numerous nation, who also occupy the Liamba hills and the shores of Lake Rikwa.

The valley of the river Katuma (Mkafu), which rises to the east of Karema, is shared between the U-Konongo territory in the north and U-Fiba (U-Fipa) in the south. The latter state is one of the most populous in East Africa, and the inhabitants are all daring navigators, who infest all the coastlands, carrying off numerous slaves by their sudden raids on the riverain villages. Near the Konongo-Fiba frontier is situated the petty state of Mpimbwe, whose capital is defended on the west by the Liamba hills, and eastwards by the steppes extending far over plain. Near the town are two thermal springs with a temperature of 114° to 116° F., which fill a basin much resorted to by the natives for the efficacy of its waters. Mpimbwe, destroyed by Mirambo's people in 1880, has been rebuilt at a little distance from the old site. The spot is shown between two baobab trees, where fell the agents of the African Association, Carter and Cadenhead, in the struggle with Mirambo

In the U-Rungu district, near the southern extremity of Tanganyika, lies the best port in the lake, to which the natives give the name of Liemba, that is,