Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/554

 "Lake," a term which they apply in a pre-eminent sense to Tanganyika itself. The port in fact is a lacustrine basin of circular form, like a volcanic crater, completely sheltered on the north and west by the Mpete peninsula, and on the east by the escarpments of the plateau. The village of Katete, which stands about 2,000 feet above this almost land-locked haven, is the residence of a sultan called the "Good Chief," who rules the northern Vua-Rungu people. Another important station in this territory is Zombe, a group of palisaded enclosures 2,300 feet above the lake, and consequently 5,000 feet above the sea, with a healthy, almost European climate, and free from the tsetse fly.

Owing to its insalubrious climate, Pambete, the southernmost port and Protestant missionary station on the lake, has had to be abandoned, and is now replaced by Yembe, on the promontory of that name, which stands between Pambete and the

Lu-Fu river on the south-west coast. This is the intended northern terminus of the carriage road constructed by Stevenson between Nyassa and Tanganyika. The two great lacustrine basins, connected by this highway some 270 miles long, will form with the Shiré, Zambese, and lateral arteries, the future main trade route penetrating from the Zambese delta 1,200 miles inland, three-fourths of which space is already open to steam navigation.

The western slope of the Tanganyika basin between the mouths of the Lo-Fu and Lo-Fuko is occupied by the Itawa and Ma-Rungu (Wanya-Rungu) peoples, who are of the same stock and speech as the Vua-Rungu on the opposite side of the lake. This region is thickly peopled, some of the mountains being covered with plantations and groups of dwellings from base to summit. On a headland commanding the north side of the Lo-Fuko the African International Association has founded the station of Mpala over against Karema, but better situated both as