Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/347

 KARONOA— BANDAWB. 875 '^ can admire such a fashion bufHcs our comprehension. Howeyer, it is evident that this custom of lucerutiug the lips is dying out, for one rarely sees it among the young." * The Magauya women are very swift- footed, generally carrj'ing off the prizes at the races. Topography op thb Nyassa and Shirk Basins. In the basin of Lake Nyassa there are no Portuguese stations. The northern- most outpost met on the Shire is Shiron;'i, below the Ruo confluence. North of this place the only European settlements are those founded by the English, or rather Scotch, missionaries, followed by the traders of the same nationality. By them both the river and the lake have been converted into a regular highway of commerce, and at the northern extremity of Nyassa this highway is continued by a well-planned route running in the direction of the village of Chiunda and Lake Tanganyika. A missionary station has also been founded at Muiitimuatita, 60 miles from Nyassa. Karongn, lying on the north-west shore of the lake, a short distance south of the main highway, is the centre of the densest population in the whole of the lacustrine basin. But the district is rendered very unhealthy by the extensive swamps and plains which are laid under water during the rainy season. The villages of the Rikuru valley enjoy a much more salubrious climate, and in the upper part of this valley lies the settlement of Mombcra, chosen by the Scotch missionaries as a health-resort. Facing it, on the east side of Nyassa, follow numerous villages built on piles, like those of the old lacustrine peoples in JIurope. In this part of the lake the best-sheltered port is Bampa (Mbampa), which is well protected from the southern gales by a peninsula and some neighbouring islets. About the middle of the west side of Nyassa lies the large village of liandairc, near which place the missionaries have founded their chief station. But it has no natural haven, although a port might easily be constructed at a small outlay. Bandawe has the advantage of being situated near the point where the regular passage is made from one side of the lake to the other. The native craft, starting from this place are able to seek shelter under the lee of the two islands of Shisi- molo and Dikomo. The corresponding station on the opposite or east side is the village of Chifesi, although it lies on a beach exposed to the full fury of the surf. Lisscira is also one of the landing-places on this side. But on the whole periphery of the lake the most frequented port and chief centre of trade, and till recently the great market for slaves, is Kota-Kota^ which lies on the west coast, over 120 miles from the southern extremity of Nyassa. It stands on an almost landlocked bay, which, thanks to their light draught, is acces- sible to the Arab boats. The Zanzibar traders have here settlecl in such nunibt^rs that Ei-Swahili has become the dominant language in Kota-Kota. This Moham- medan colony has the advantage of possessing some thermal springs in its vicinity ;
 * Totoardt the MoimUtimt of the Moon, p 173.